Clonkill Christmas Market celebrates community spirit
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Caoimhe Kevlihan and Molly Doyle from M&C Bracelets.Image 2 of 12
Caoilinn Murphy, Eabha Murphy, Orla Egerton, Katie McCormack and Hannah McCormack in Clonkill at the Christmas market.Image 3 of 12
Brian Jones and James Brady were stewards for the market.Image 4 of 12
Maureen Gallagher, Pauline Jenkinson and Josephine Gavigan from Mullingar.Image 5 of 12
Caroline Finn, Margaret Glennon and Fran Trafford from the Mullingar branch of the Westmeath Women’s Shed.Image 6 of 12
Sheila Moynihan, Fidelma Bennett and Linda McGee at the TEAM stand.Image 7 of 12
Cian Colgan from The Downs and Lisa Meyler from Clonkill.Image 8 of 12
Suzanne Ennis and Mary Clarke at the market.Image 9 of 12
The committee members. Back: Vivienne Mulligan, Oliver Scally and Denise Muldoon. Front: Olivia McGrath and Karen Gavigan.Image 10 of 12
Mary Rennicks, Maya McGrath and Jordanna McGrath from the Delvin Scout Group.Image 11 of 12
Donal Kenny and Niall Brennan at the market in Clonkill.Image 12 of 12
Declan Leonard and Sarah Kiernan at the Clonkill GAA fundraising stand.The Clonkill Christmas Market has been growing steadily since the first one at the Clonkill clubhouse in 2016, and this year there were more than 90 stalls and vendors.
Karen Gavigan, committee PRO, said it had started with just 34 stalls and now in 2024, the market occupied the main hall as usual and extended to the upstairs spaces and outdoor areas.
A highlight for the younger visitors was Santa’s Grotto, and photographer John McCauley captured festive family portraits, in exchange for donations to his charity, Tanzanian Heavenly Homes.
“We’re delighted to be able to help local groups and charities such as TEAM, Mullingar Arch Club, Diabetes Ireland, Meals on Wheels, The Lions Club, Clonkill Club Development Fund, Loughegar National School Parents Association, Loughegar school playschool, Taughmon Turin Women’s Group – who had a stall for their raffle, Taughmon National School, St Vincent de Paul Taughmon Turin branch, and then the autism unit in Taughmon school,” said Karen.
The committee also sponsored stall for Westmeath Women’s Shed and Delvin Scouts, and “we had our young entrepreneurs Molly Doyle and Caoimhe Kevlihan, their stall was M&C Bracelets”.
Karen extended thanks to the patrons, vendors, stallholders, volunteers, and to her colleagues on the committee, Vivian Mulligan, Olivia McGrath, Denise Muldoon, and Oliver Scally.
This year's market was the first local Christmas market, and it was on Sunday November 17.