Red tape and traders row could halt plans for Christmas Market

This year’s Christmas Market is under threat from red tape imposed by Galway City Council, and a row with casual traders already licensed to operate at the top of Eyre Square.

Already, an application by the Galway City Business Association (GCBA) for a market in the Square, Woodquay and an ice rink at Spanish Arch has been rejected by the Council as it did not follow the correct application process.

Separately, an application by Milestone Inventive – which ran the market since 2011 – has caused outrage among traders at the northern (Supermac’s) end of Eyre Square as it will “encroach” on their bays and the taxi rank.

And it has also been pointed out that last March, Galway City Council ruled that “any application for the use of public lands for markets in 2016 must be made by the GCBA” – which would effectively rule out the Milestone Inventive application.

However, applicant Maria Moynihan-Lee told the Galway City Tribune this week that there are “no issues” and consultations are ongoing with all relevant parties.

Her plans involve a large carousel and stalls in the ‘triangle’ outside Supermac’s, stalls along the taxi rank and a Big Wheel on the road outside Bank of Ireland, while the bier keller would move to the hard surface in the Square opposite Richardon’s.

Gerry Devaney, who has traded at the top of Eyre Square for almost four decades, says he will not “move an inch” to make way for the carousel that is proposed to be located there.

A spokesperson for Galway City Council said the Milestone Inventive application is the only ‘live’ application being considered, and no decision has yet been made.

For extensive coverage of this story, including statements from the GCBA, Milestone Inventive and Gerry Devaney, see this week’s Galway City Tribune