THE SMELL of roasting meat and mulled wine spell Christmas and everyone is invited to get in the festive spirit with a market that has all of that and more, in the name of a great cause.
The Killaloe Ballina Family Resource Centre and the Killaloe Ballina Better Christmas fund have joined forces with St Vincent de Paul, An Garda Síochána, Brothers of Charity, local chefs, foods producers, and businesses to stage the market on December 1 at the Resource Centre.
There will be music in the air and Santa will be making one of his first appearances for a meet and greet.
Joining the gang will be TV’s ‘firefighting chef’ Paul Knapp, along with more than 30 local businesses with everything from crafts and beauty products to baking and balloons.
Eddie O’Gorman, of A Better Christmas, told the Limerick Post that the proceeds from the day will go to help kick-start the young people’s mental health programme being run by the Resource Center and provide food hampers and vouchers for people living locally who are facing a struggle.
“All of the stalls, within reason, come from a 5k radius of the two towns,” he said.
“We want this to be a great day out for getting some Christmas shopping in, supporting local businesses and helping a good cause.
“Anyone who is in need this Christmas will benefit from this. We don’t care who they – and a lot of people you would never think are struggling – are, if they need a hand, we want to help”.
Eddie says the support is confidential and open to everyone who needs help. The fund has been going for five years but this is the first time they have organised a fair. Full details of the many stalls and fun on the day are available on Biggy Christmas Market on Facebook and in shops locally.
