Galway shops say there are signs of a bumper Christmas

 It looks like Galway City retailers are gearing up for a particularly busy Christmas period with spending expected to far surpass previous years.

 The weekend saw a surge in shoppers and spending with the crisp dry weather certainly helping people enjoy the Christmas Contenental Market.

Anthony Ryan, a city centre retailer and chairman of the Galway City Business Association, said local retailers were optimistic that what had started out as a slow year might see a turn for the best.

“We have seen already that shoppers are up on last year and that overall December sales were up, which shows one of the first turns in the local economy and a return of people’s confidence.

“Definitely, sales were down in the past six years but what we have seen so far by way of footfall and spend, has been very good. Of course the weather has helped and we have seen a huge increase in the numbers to the Christmas Market.

“The Park and Ride is also quite busy and I came across a number of out of town customers, as far away as Kilkenny, who told me they had used the Park and Ride.”

Cathy Joyce of the Galway Transportation Unit said the numbers using the Park and Ride, based at Galway Racecourse in Ballybrit, had doubled in three years since 2009.

Ms Joyce said that its location at the point of congestion entering the city near the M6, the N6, the N17 and N18, was ideal and that this time last year over 21,000 passengers had used the service – three years previously it was just over 10,000.

“It already looks like last year’s figures will be surpassed as its usage is well up and it will continue daily from 7am up until Christmas Eve.”

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