GALLERY: Galway Christmas Market update as taxi drivers hold protest
Some of the placards read messages including: ‘keep Galway Taxi rank open for Christmas’, ‘No one should be forced out of their workspace’ and “Galway City Council has no respect for Galway taxi drivers’.
A group of Galway taxi drivers who regularly park in the taxi rank at Eyre Square are holding peaceful protests ahead of the Christmas Market start date.
Galway’s Christmas Market will open to the public on Friday November 6 running until January 3, operating from 12-8pm Monday to Wednesday; 10am-10pm Thursday to Saturday and 10am-8pm on Sunday.
The annual amusement arena, which includes a Beer Tent which will also open on Friday and operates until 10pm each day, has seen criticism in recent years from publicans and taxi drivers over its location.
Drivers are using their regular shifts to show Galway City Council what they think holding a silent protest but using homemade placards to still drive a message home.
Some of the placards read messages including: “keep Galway Taxi rank open for Christmas”, “No one should be forced out of their workspace” and “Galway City Council has no respect for Galway taxi drivers”.
One taxi driver told Galway Live: “We decided to have the peaceful protest this week in Eyre Square to make it visible to more people.
“The taxi rank is now blocked in and drivers can’t go anywhere because of the Christmas Market which as a result will lead to less business in a normally busy spot at an even busier time of year”.
A spokesperson for Galway Christmas Market said: “For more than 15 years, the Galway Christmas Market has been one of the city's most popular festive traditions, bringing thousands of visitors together in Eyre Square to celebrate the Christmas season. What began as a seasonal event has grown into a much-loved part of Christmas in Galway, welcoming families, friends and visitors from near and far to enjoy its traditional wooden chalets, festive entertainment and lively atmosphere.
“With over 70 wooden chalets, the market offers a wonderful mix of handcrafted gifts, Christmas decorations, artisan products and seasonal food and drinks. Visitors can enjoy everything from freshly prepared crêpes and hot dogs to traditional Glühwein, while attractions such as the Big Wheel, Santa's Grotto and festive entertainment offer something for all ages. Combining the charm of a traditional European Christmas market with Galway's own character, it has become a favourite annual celebration for locals and visitors alike.”