Plug set to be pulled on Christmas market plan

Date Published: 21-Oct-2010

BY ENDA CUNNINGHAM

An eleventh hour meeting today between business leaders and Gardaí will decide whether the German-style market will go ahead in Eyre Square this Christmas.

The promoter of the market will ‘pull the plug’ on the event today, unless Gardaí agree not to object to a bar in the Square.

The Galway City Business Association has said it will “bend over backwards” to alleviate Garda concerns about licensing of the ‘bier keller’, and the potential for anti-social behaviour.

City traders have expressed serious concerns that the cancellation will see the local economy take a crippling hit this Winter.

It is understood the business group has secured the use of five drinks licenses to cover the event.

Paul Faller, Chairman of the GCBA told the Galway City Tribune: “Market Place Europe (the promoters) have always said that it was important to have beer and glühwein on sale for a Christmas market to be a success. It was tried [without them] in Britain, and it just doesn’t work.

“If we can’t come up with a solution, the market is off. The chalets should have been ordered over a week ago. At this stage, we’re a fortnight behind schedule.

“We’ll bend over backwards to alleviate the concerns of the guards. We want to get agreement, we don’t want to lose this … it’s going to be a very tough Christmas for Galway if it doesn’t happen.

For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.