As Christmas approaches, Galway is getting into the festive spirit, and for Paul David Murphy of Tiny Traders Village, that means bringing the community’s creative energy right into the heart of the city once again. Discover all about this year's Tiny Traders Christmas Markets right here...
From Friday, November 21st, Tiny Traders' will set up their stalls in two units in Edward Square with other pop ups taking place in Eyre Square Shopping Centre. It’s an exciting return for the team after a busy summer of outdoor events across the city. “It’s a brilliant location,” Paul says, smiling. “It’s great to be in one of Galway’s premier retail locations, close to Shop Street, across from Starbucks, beside Elverys, right in the mix of it all..”
While summer markets have a sun-soaked, festival feel, with tourists and buskers filling the streets, Paul says Christmas brings a different kind of magic. The summer markets are all about people shopping for themselves, but Christmas is about giving. People are thinking of others, they’re looking for something meaningful. That makes it special.
And meaningful is exactly what Tiny Traders Village offers. Every item sold in the market is handmade by local craftspeople; jewellers, candle-makers, artists, bakers, and creators of all kinds. “You can buy a gift anywhere,” Paul says, “but when you buy from someone who makes it with their own hands, you’re making two people happy, the person getting the gift, and the person you buy it off.”
This season’s market will feature a mix of beloved regular vendors and new traders, with sweet treats, coffee, and a warm, festive atmosphere. “We try to strike a balance between supporting the traders who already make their living here, so they can continue without interruption, and keeping our doors open to welcome new people. That’s something I’m really passionate about.”
That mix is something Paul feels deeply about. From a handful of stalls to a thriving grassroots collective with nearly 300 active traders, Tiny Traders Village has become much more than a market, it’s a launchpad for local entrepreneurs. “I’m proud of what it’s become. I think people in Galway have taken it as their own.” He adds, “We’re very lucky and very happy with the way the local community has embraced us.”
That sense of place runs deep. Tiny Traders has helped transform empty city spaces into buzzing community hubs, breathing new life into vacant units and showing how local creativity can thrive alongside big retail brands. “It shows people the world isn’t going to end if you let local crafters into your building,” Paul says. “It doesn’t have to be big multinationals all the time, that it can work if we give some local people a chance.”
At its core, though, Tiny Traders Village is about cultivating joy, something Paul believes you can feel the moment you walk in. “I believe at the base of a lovely atmosphere are happy people,” he says simply. “It is, you know, if everyone's happy and everyone's glad to be there, that creates a lovely atmosphere to begin with, and if everyone is smiling, it just raises the level of everything.”
This Christmas, as Galway comes alive with festive spirit, find one-of-a-kind gifts at the Tiny Traders’ Christmas Village and stay up-to-date on the latest news by following them on Instagram @tinytradersvillage.
Main image from Tiny Traders' Summer Eyre Square Market 2025.
All other photos from Tiny Traders Christmas Market 2024.
All photos courtesy of Tiny Traders Village.
