REBECCA O’Connor from Skye Jewellery, Meadhbh Ní Eidhin from MNE Fine Art, and Tuam-based illustrator Leah O’Grady, at the launch of this year’s Local Food and Craft Gift Fair, which will run from November 27 to December 2 in the Black Box Theatre in Galway. Photo: Martina Regan.

Local Food and Craft Gift Fair returns for six-day run

Published: Wed 5 Nov 2025, 10:10 AM

GALWAY'S Local Food and Craft Gift Fair returns to the Black Box Theatre in the city later this month, this time for an extended six-day run.

Breaking from its two-day tradition, the event will take place across six days, beginning on Thursday November 27 at 4:30pm, and continuing until Tuesday December 2.

Organised by the Local Enterprise Office in Galway, the fair will showcase the best of the county’s artisan producers and is expected to attract up to 15,000 shoppers.

Head of Enterprise at the Galway Local Enterprise Office Caroline McDonagh believes the fair has become a staple in Galway’s Christmas calendar.

“For more than a decade, the fair has been a hugely popular attraction, but this year, it feels like there’s an even greater emphasis among consumers about the importance of shopping locally and supporting domestic producers,” stated Caroline.

“In line with the demand, the quality seems to have hit an all-time high too. Visitors to the event are going to be blown away by the variety and calibre of what will be on offer across the six days.”

Shoppers can expect to find an array of gift ideas from local artists, designers, jewellers, skincare trailblazers, and craftspeople, such as Tuam based illustrator Leah O’Grady, as well as tempting locally made food and drinks from some of Galway’s best loved artisan producers.

Outside the venue, there will be several food vendors with a broad range of tasty cuisines, ensuring guests can get everything they need for Christmas, and plenty of sustenance to keep the energy flowing.

“The 2025 Local Food and Craft Gift Fair presents an ideal opportunity for shoppers to pick up some really unique gifts and start ticking names off their Christmas shopping list,” added Caroline.

“We will also have live music, performances from local choirs, a visit from the ever-popular Bernardo the Magician, and we’re hoping that the man of the moment – Santa Claus himself – will stop by to meet the children.

“We have a few more plans up our sleeves, including the provision of free bus services to the event from right across the county. We’re still finalising details, but we’re quietly confident that we’ll even take care of travel for many of our shoppers this year,” she concluded.