Eyre Square protest putting Christmas market in jeopardy

By Dara Bradley

There are fears that the protesters occupying Eyre Square could put the staging of the city’s Christmas market in doubt.

The Galway branch of the global ‘Occupy’ movement has been camped out for over three weeks at the concrete plaza in Eyre Square, and a former city mayor has expressed concerned that unless they are removed, the second annual Christmas market may be in jeopardy.

There are about 25 protesters camping out in 16 tents and their numbers are rising – they are occupying part of the area where the Christmas market is due to be located.

The official launch of the market, which attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors last year in its inaugural year, is due to take place on November 18. The market will be assembled in the week leading up to that date.

City Councillor Pádraig Conneely said the continuing protest is putting the market, which is a lucrative spin-off for the city’s businesses, in doubt. The Fine Gael Councillor called on Galway Gardaí and the City Manager Joe O’Neill to be proactive and move the protesters on so that the Christmas market event can proceed.

Cllr Conneely added: “Preparation and installing of the chalets for the Christmas market is due to commence in the next two weeks, and it is expected to be officially opened on November 18.

“Galway City Council must take whatever action is required to ensure that the Christmas market operators have full access to Eyre Square. It is not acceptable that these protesters should occupy Eyre Square, which cost the people of Galway €15 million when it was revamped.

“The Browne doorway has been completely defaced with banners and posters, which is not acceptable. The protesters have made their point – they should now move on and have no right to occupy public property and deface public property.”

Cllr Conneely said businesses in the city are already struggling, and they depend on the Christmas trade to boost their revenues. It is not fair, he said, that a minority of protesters are putting the operation of a full Christmas market in jeopardy.

“The full rigours of the law must be applied by Galway City Council and Galway Gardaí to ensure Eyre Square is fully accessible to the citizens of Galway, to visitors and to the operators of the market. The city needs all the business it can get and these protestors, who are unsightly and who will be obstructing the Christmas market, should be removed. The law must be enforced and upheld,” he said.

As chairperson of the Galway City Joint Policing Committee, Cllr Conneely said he would be raising this matter with the City Manager and Garda chiefs over the coming week to ensure the Christmas market is not obstructed or restricted by the protesters.