Proposed Christmas market in Wexford will not displace existing traders – ‘The objective is to drive footfall in the town’

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

A new Christmas market in Wexford town will not take business away from existing traders according to the local council. Although not expected to be operational until Christmas 2026, there are already fears that a market will negatively impact local businesses at a time when they need as much custom as possible.

At the October meeting of the Wexford Borough, councillors advised caution regarding any new initiative in the town.

“We need to take a step back, it’s a great idea but we have to consider the existing traders in the town,” said Councillor Biddy Walsh. “They are concerned about new eateries being set up, coffee stations, and there’s questions to be asked in relation to rates and rents, we have to consider all this.”

Cllr Raymond Shannon was in agreement.

“A lot of commercial businesses have contacted me about this, we have to prioritise the rate-payers,” he said.

However, the proposed market, which would be located in the open space behind the Dun Mhuire theatre, would simply follow the lead of those created in other counties according to Cllr Leonard Kelly.

“It’s going to be an experiential feature, not something that will compete with others,” he said. “We need to focus on bringing people into the town and then that will spill out into other areas – this is already being done in Galway, Kilkenny, and Waterford. It’s about creating an experience for people to come to the town and then that will benefit the existing businesses.”

District manager Anthony Bailey confirmed that he had already held conversations with a number of parties who were interested in being part of a weekly market in the town, adding that it was important to look at the project from a long-term perspective.

“Everyone wants a market that will become a destination experience for Wexford, but it will require a certain amount of investment,” he said. “The objective of the market is to be complimentary to existing businesses and drive footfall in the town, the last thing we want to do is displace existing traders. It’s about creating something we don’t have.”

Replying to a query from Cllr Tom Forde, Mr Bailey said the lease on the proposed site of the market had seven of its ten years left to run.