Festive bonanza in Ballina!

From the North Pole to Times Square, there are many great locations across the globe to soak in the atmosphere in the build-up to Christmas, and this year Ballina Tidy Towns is hoping to put their village on this list, with a frenzy of festive activity on Saturday December 23rd.

Organised in partnership with Flanagan’s on the Lake, Ballina will play host to its first ever 'Christmas Craft and Food Fair', to take place outside Flanagan’s from 12pm – 4pm, just two days before the big day itself. The idea, conceived by members of the local Tidy Towns Committee, is seen as a novel attraction for the area, endeavouring to promote local businesses, invoke a festive ambience, and establish an annual tradition for years to come.

The project is community-based, supported by Tipperary County Council, and spearheaded by Cllr Phyll Bugler, as well the owner of Flanagan’s, Cathal Quinn, who has kindly offered to stage the event on his premises.

The day will see a diverse array of local enterprises from all kinds of trades setting up stall outside the restaurant on the banks of the Shannon, where they will showcase and sell a variety of products, from arts and crafts to delicious culinary delights. Indeed, the Christmas cuisine promises to be irresistible and will be provided by Flanagan’s, as well as any other local food outlets attending the market.  A nominal fee of €2 will be charged to enter the market, which will cover the cost of the food provided by Flanagan’s.

But wait, there’s more, and any younger readers will certainly want to read this next paragraph! A little known fact about Santa Claus is that every year, on the eve of Christmas Eve (December 23rd), he takes a short break from his hectic schedule in the North Pole to fly down to Ballina, where relaxes for the afternoon with a mid-winter’s boat trip up Lough Derg. It just so happens that this year, the Tidy Towns' Christmas Food and Craft Fair coincides with Santa’s visit, and the man in the big red suit has happily agreed to pop in on the occasion. He is looking forward to meeting children from Ballina and elsewhere. To make things even more unique, Santa has invited any enthusiastic children to join him on his boat, generously supplied by James Whelan of Killaloe.

Speaking at the launch of the Christmas Food and Craft Fair on Monday December 4th, Cllr Phyll Bugler, the current Cathaoirleach of Tipperary County Council, envisaged the event as a perfect initiative to endorse and promote local enterprise, as well as injecting some added festive flair to the atmosphere in Ballina on Christmas weekend.
“I think it’s a fantastic initiative, I really do,” she stated. “It's an opportunity for businesses within the area but also a chance for people from the community and indeed elsewhere to come together and generate that Christmas spirit. There’ll be carol singing, delicious food, mulled wine – non-alcoholic I might add – and Santa will even be arriving by boat. Where else would you rather be!”

Tickets to see Santa can be purchased for €2 on entry to the market, with all proceeds contributed directly to Ballina Tidy Towns, which will utilise them to cover the cost of the event, as well as for future funding.

All are welcome to come along and enjoy what promises to be a memorable occasion in Ballina, the first of many for years to come.