Buncrana councillor Jack Murray has a Christmas market at the top of his list this year.
The idea for a festive market in Swan Park was shared across social media after a suggestion by Cllr Murray at the weekend.
It is hoped that Buncrana can reap the economic benefits of an outdoor fair, provided that the organising begins soon.
Cllr Murray gained the backing of Donegal County Council and his fellow elected members on Monday when the idea was raised to the council.
However, with five months to go until December, the countdown is on.
Cllr Murray said he was taken aback by the response from the community when he posted about a possible Christmas Market in Swan Park. Local hotels, schools, volunteers and choir groups have all expressed an interest already.
“The community really bought into the idea, were very excited by the idea and throughout the weekend I’ve been responding to messages and calls from businesses and community groups that want to get involved,” Cllr Murray said.
He added that Swan Park’s location will have a knock-on benefit for businesses in the town centre.
“I myself love Christmas markets and I would go to Belfast, me and thousands of others would do that. You would stay in a hotel, you go out for dinner and have a drink and obviously, all that benefits the local economy, so I don’t think there’s any reason we shouldn’t try and compete with that with our own unique experience.”
He added that the Christmas lights committee said they would like to coincide the switch-on with the opening of the market to capitalise on people visiting to stay the night and enjoy the events.
Cllr Murray acknowledged that it is a bit late in the year for sourcing funding for the event, but he is hopeful that an option is available.
“I think if there’s a will there’s a way and if we all buy into this concept we can identify funding streams,” he said.
“Event organisers estimate it would be about €40,000 needed but I think it will be money well spent if it’s going back and we generate more for the local economy.”
Cllr Murray proposed a meeting to bring together local business leaders, tourism representatives, Donegal County Council and the Inishowen Development Project to identify the funding.
Mr. Garry Martin, Director of Economic Development, said the council would be willing to explore the potential for a Buncrana Christmas Market.
“My own instinct is that it is going to be very tight to organise something this year and to do it to a standard that we want to be able to stand over. Including the financing of it,” Mr Martin said.
“It probably would be wrong at this stage to create an optimism that there is a probability of being able to deliver in 2023 given the various elements that need to be pulled together in a relatively short time. Certainly, I think there is a very strong prospect of something like this being delivered in future years, should the necessary funding lines be identified.”
Cllr Murray said he was not naive enough to think there would be difficulties and challenges to go ahead in 2023, but he didn’t want to rule out the chances.
“I think we should be ambitious for it,” he said.
“If it’s going to be 2024, so be it, but I think we should try our damnedest to get it for 2023.”
