Second Christmas market for Tullamore

Published: Fri 11 Oct 2013, 9:00 AM

A Christmas market will be hosted in Tullamore for the second time this December. At a two-and-a-half hour meeting in the Axis Business Park on Wednesday night last it was agreed that the market will differ in format to last year’s offering, which ran over four Sundays in December. This market will once more take place in O’Connor Square however.

This year’s Christmas market will take place in nine weeks’ time over three consecutive days on December 13, 14 and 15, from 10am until 6pm each day. While last year’s festival had 30 stalls and covered half of O’Connor Square, organisers are hoping to take up the whole of O’Connor Square this year with more than 40 stalls offering a range of goodies for market visitors.

Speaking to the Offaly Independent market PRO Declan Harvey said this year’s market has been in the planning for the last two months by a voluntary committee of approximately eight people. He said this year’s market is “flying it”, but needs local buy-in as the year closes in. “We need local people,” he said, inviting anyone who wants to help with the festival, perform at it or make a suggestion as to how it can be even better to get in touch.

Cllr Harvey said already 20 stall holders have confirmed their attendance at this year’s festival, but with more space this year others are also being sought. The festival will offer guests a variety of choice including artisan food and crafts, with a wider variety on offer this year compared to last according to organisers.

Entertainment this year will come from local school children rather than bands, while local radio station Midlands 103 is also expected to broadcast from the market for two of its three days. A children’s carousel is also being planned, Cllr Harvey said.

PROs for the market are town councillors Declan Harvey and Brendan Killeavy, while chair of the market is Tom Finnerty of Offaly Local Development Company. Contact can be made directly with officers, or via Facebook by searching for Offaly Christmas Market Festival.