Shoppers from all across County Galway can enjoy a hassle-free shopping experience at this year’s Local Food and Craft Gift Fair, thanks to the team at the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Galway. 14 free bus routes will operate from towns all over Galway, taking groups to the Christmas Fair at the Black Box Theatre. Discover more here...
Shoppers are advised to book their seats early to avoid disappointment. Bookings can be made by calling LEO on 091 509 090 or online at www.localenterprise.ie/Galway/.
Galway’s Local Food and Craft Gift Fair returns to the Black Box Theatre, this month, for an extended six-day run. Previously, the event took place over two days, showcasing the very best of the county’s artisan producers. Due to unprecedented demand, the organisers have significantly lengthened this year’s festival. It will now run for six days, beginning on Thursday, November 27th, and continuing until Tuesday, December 2nd.
Coaches will serve Athenry, Ballinasloe, Carna, Carraroe, Claregalway, Clifden, Cloonboo, Dunmore, Furbo, Headford, Inverin, Loughrea, Maam Cross, Moycullen, Oughterard, Oranmore, Rosmuc, Rossaveal, Spiddal and Tuam. Shoppers will be able to spend a couple of hours at the Black Box, before being bussed back to the various collection points.
Head of Enterprise at LEO Galway, Caroline McDonagh, said the addition of bus routes this year will make the popular Fair even more accessible to all age groups. “As Christmas draws closer, we all know how stressful it can sometimes be to try to navigate Galway City traffic and parking. We have such an incredible line-up at this year’s Fair and we wanted to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to come along and experience the atmosphere, shopping and festivities, without any unnecessary headaches,” she said.
LEO Galway is advising those hoping to travel on the bus routes to book their tickets as early as possible. “We have 14 buses scheduled over the long weekend and the seats will be filled on a first-come-first-served basis. Whether you’re thinking of travelling alone, with friends, or as part of a larger community group, the advice is to book as soon as possible,” Caroline added.
On Monday and Tuesday, December 1st and 2nd, the bus will leave Corrib Oil, Ballinasloe at 9.30am, with an additional stop at McInerney’s SuperValu in Loughrea at 10am. It will leave from the Black Box at 1pm, dropping shoppers back to the two collection points.
On Friday, November 28th, a bus will collect at Northgate Street Car Park in Athenry at 8.50am and at Lidl Oranmore at 9.20am, returning from the Black Box at 12. On Monday, December 1st, a second bus will cover the same route, with a 9.20am Athenry pick-up and a 9.50am collection in Oranmore. It will leave Galway at 12.30pm.
On Monday and Tuesday, December 1st and 2nd, there will be a 9am pick-up at the Church of Our Lady and St Nicholas in Dunmore, 9.25am at the Ard Rí House Hotel in Tuam, and 9.55am at the Claregalway Hotel. It will depart from the Black Box at 12.30pm.
On Friday, December 28th, there will be a bus from Tesco Car Park in Headford at 11.30am, stopping at Regan’s in Cloonboo at 11.50am, and leaving Galway at 2.30pm. The route will be served again on Monday, December 1st, leaving Headford at 9.30am, Cloonboo at 9.50am, and picking up again at the Black Box at 12.30pm.
The other side of the county will be well served on Monday and Tuesday, December 1st and 2nd. On both days, there will be a 9am collection at Carna Church, 9.45am at Rosmuc GAA Pitch, and 10.30am from Spiddal Bus Stop. The buses will depart the Black Box at 1.20pm
On the same days, there will be a 10.30am pick-up at Carraroe Bus Stop, 10.45am at O’Shea’s Shop in Rossaveal, 11am at Inverin Church, and 11.30am at Furbo Bus Stop, leaving Galway at 2.15pm. In addition, another bus will collect at 9.30am on Monday and Tuesday at Clifden Bus Stop, 10.10am at Peacocks in Maam Cross, 10.30am from Oughterard Bus Stop, and 10.50am from Moycullen Bus Stop. It will leave from the Black Box at 1.30pm.
Shoppers can expect to find an array of gift ideas from local artists, designers, jewellers, skincare trailblazers, and craftspeople, as well as tempting locally-made food and drinks from some of Galway’s best loved artisan producers. Outside the venue, there will be several food vendors with a broad range of tasty cuisines, ensuring both the shopping lists and appetites are taken care of at this year’s Local Food and Craft Gift Fair.
All photos courtesy of LEO Galway.
Published on Updated on
