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Irish Independent

Galway's first year-round market and ‘repair café' opens

Executive Director, Lochlann Scott, said the Green Market (TGM) is a non-profit social enterprise aiming to 'support people to live more sustainably' and 'gain knowledge about skills that are being lost'. 'It's all about uplifting the community. It's about uplifting the traders and self-employed people around us'. The shimmering glitter on a Christmas card was at the beginning of the vision for The Green Market. Mr Scott discovered that glitter, made of metals, deemed the cards unrecyclable and unsustainable. In response, Locky's Wonder Emporium was born as a holiday pop-up offering eco-friendly cards and holiday gifts. During this time, various vendors asked to collaborate with him, and he realised there was a need for a dedicated place where businesses and makers could sell their sustainable products in Moycullen. 'I have been very interested in the idea of not losing the skills that we have, also to live and celebrate a bit more sustainably.' Every Friday and Saturday, half of the market stalls will be reserved for permanent, year-round vendors so that, as Mr Scott explained, 'people know every week they can come get their eggs, their vegetables, their pastries". The other stalls will feature a rotating mix of craft and design vendors, ensuring that 'people will have something new every week,' he said. Along with the weekly market, TGM plan to host workshops on traditional skills and launch Galway's first 'repair café,' where residents can bring household items that need fixing and get help from volunteers to make them as good as new. Children can also bring their teddies and dolls to the 'hospital' for repairs. These events will take place throughout the year. The next project Mr Scott is looking forward to is the Sunday community cinema where classic movies will be shown, and families can come enjoy a film and a sweet treat from the Emporium for a donation. Last weekend vendors like BakeBox, Bonne Etoile Soap, Sláinte Sea Moss, and Galway Cakery displayed their items as locals buzzed around shopping and chatting to one another. The space smelled of fresh paint and wood, an attribution to the collective effort from carpenters and builders. While Mr Scott personally funded the renovations to get the community space up and running, Scott said that support from local carpenters kept the initiative 'in line' with efforts to reduce waste and be sustainable. Second hand wood was sourced for each stall as well as upcycled cut-offs from roofing that would otherwise be thrown away. In a Facebook post gratitude was given to 'family and friends who have helped out to get us here, working stalls, transporting sinks across county lines… and anyone we might have forgotten'. The doors are always open to the community and to local vendors, Mr Scott said, 'they are trying to help lift all the boats in the area for people who are doing such great work from a sustainability point of view', 'To see people happy, to see other businesses happy, with their business growing. That's just brilliant.' Opening hours will be Friday and Saturday, all year round, from 10-5pm. If you are a local trader and would like to join The Green Market for their Autumn/Christmas season, you can email greenmarket@