When a group of Clogherhead people raised the idea of holding a Christmas market a few weeks ago and approached some local small businesses to see would there be interest they were amazed at the response

“It was a unanimous yes from all!” said Robert Gargan who is Events and Tourism Co-Ordinator at The Smugglers Rest Seafood Gastrobar.

“So we pressed on and contacted the Clogherhead Development Group to see would they come onboard with planning. They were delighted to be able to help as they have been restricted in their activities this year.

“We launched an information flyer through the Smugglers Rest Facebook page with details on applying for a pitch. To our surprise applications started arriving thick and fast and before we knew it we had to close the applications. We received over 120 applications for a total of 30 available spaces. 

The Clogherhead market will hopefully be going ahead on Saturday 12th December dependent on Covid-19 restrictions.

“We're hoping to open the market from around 12 and run it through to Saturday evening. We have a great mix of handmade jewellery, artwork, frames, scents and much more. We'll have food and drinks provided on the day by The Smuggler's Rest, The Porthole and The Koffee Kart.

“If the market is a success we'll be considering whether to make a Clogherhead craft market a more regular occurrence, and certainly we'll be looking to make the Christmas Market bigger and better every year. A mini Belfast or Edinburgh market if possible!”

Annagassan Christmas Market

Not to be outdone, the Glyde Inn, Annagassan are putting on a Christmas Market on Sunday 29th November from 12-4pm.

The Annagassan market will include wonderful produce from O Neill's bakery, Anne O Neill, The Gluten Free Bakery, Un-Glued, The Great Northern Larder, Mc Entee's Irish Tea, Bellingham Blue Cheese, Ballymakenny Farm, Derrycamma Farm, Drummond House Garlic, Dunany Flour, Oriel Sea Salt, Carlingford Oysters, Kookee, Newgrange Gold along with "an array of festive crafts".