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Mistletown Christmas Market Dublin Ireland

Get Excited For Mistletown Christmas Market

Michele Ryan Market Reviews christmas festival, christmas market, craft fair, dublin market, mistletown 0

Mistletown Christmas Market Family Fun!

Ireland’s largest indoor Christmas market is coming to Dublin and we can’t wait!

We missed out on going to Christmas markets in 2020 because of COVID so this year there is a lot of built up excitement for the Christmas season.

Christmas markets in Europe are top of many people’s travel list in December every year, and we know why.. the cold winter air, smell of grilled sausages, twinkling lights, traditional Christmas crafts and a mug of hot mulled wine! What’s not to like?!

As with any Christmas market, having food, drink, craft stalls and entertainment all together creates a magical festive setting. It’s an ideal day out for all the family and that’s why we are thrilled we can enjoy exactly this without having to get on a flight.

The craft stalls at Christmas markets are the highlight for many visitors. The excitement to buy something different that you won’t get in the shops, the chats with the maker, and just discovering quirky little handmade gifts for Christmas. And isn’t it nice to pick up a little Christmas souvenir for yourself too!

So Mistletown Christmas market, here we come..we can’t wait to experience the festive cheer this December!

Mistletown Christmas market Dublin — Christmas market craft stalls.

All You Need To Know About Mistletown Christmas Market ..

When is it on?

It will take place from the 4th to the 23rd December so plenty of time to soak up the Christmas atmosphere.

Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th: 10am to 10pm
Wednesday 8th – Friday 10th: Midday to 10pm
Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th: 10am to 10pm
Wednesday 15th – Friday 17th: Midday to 10pm
Saturday 18th – Tuesday 23rd: 10am to 10pm
Wednesday 23rd December: 10am to 6pm

Where is it on?

It will be held in Dublin’s old fruit and veg market on Mary’s Lane close to Capel Street.

What will there be to do?

Being Ireland’s biggest Christmas market, it will feature a :

Craft stalls – the heart of the market and where you’ll find plenty of handcrafted Christmas gifts and jewellery from up to 80 craft stalls.
Food & Drink – artisan food & drink traders will be in demand with busy Christmas treats such as mince pies, crepes, bratwurst and lots more! Choose from over 20 food and drink stalls.
Vintage carnival – featuring a victorian carousel, a big wheel, fairground games and more family fun.
Mistletown bar – get your mulled wine in while catching up with friends and watching the live entertainment.
Entertainment – the main stage will host live entertainment every day of the market.

How much is entry?

Free…totally free!

Is there parking?

The closest parking is in Jervis Street carpark (5 minutes away) or Park Rite carpark in Smithfield (10 minutes away).

Is it suitable for the whole family?

Yes, yes, yes! Make a day of it and head into Dublin city for the day…Soak up the atmosphere of Mistletown Christmas market and shy not stroll up to Henry Street and Grafton Street to see the famous Christmas lights. Festive fun day for everyone!

For more information, visit Mistletown.ie.

Understandably, Mistletown Christmas market is not a possibility for everyone to visit, be it down to timing, location or personal reasons. If you miss it but fancy some crafty Christmas gifts, then pop over to our own Christmas shop on MarketStreet.ie where we have a great selection of Christmas goodies from over 200 Irish makers and designers that you would find at various markets across the country!

Visit Our Online Christmas Shop

SHOP HANDCRAFTED GIFTS

Deliveries Suspended From Australia to Ireland

Michele Ryan News australia, australia post, irish expats 0

08Oct

Irish expats in Australia disappointed as they look for an alternative to get gifts to loved ones this Christmas.

Australia Post has suspended deliveries from Australia to Ireland.

Due to limited international flight capacity, Ireland is one of the few countries that Australia Post has had to suspend parcel deliveries.

Sending parcels home to Ireland throughout the pandemic has been a lifeline for many Irish expats living in Australia. Taking the time to put together and send care packages for family and friends they have not been able to visit in over 18 months, this has kept a connection there and brought smiles to many families during this tough time.

Already missing home, now expats can’t send parcels easily without a whole load of additional hassle and stress. With Christmas only around the corner, and the uncertainty of when Australia Post will resume its deliveries to Ireland again, Irish expats wanting to send parcels home will need to find alternatives before Christmas.

Sending a parcel internationally is always a stress…the cost involved, the time it takes, and the risk it might not arrive or when it does arrive that it may be damaged. There are so many things to consider when deciding how to send parcels and presents to family and friends in Ireland.

Family taking photo on Australian beach — Irish expat family taking selfies on beach for family back home.

3 Solutions to Irish expats getting gifts to loved ones in Ireland

For those looking to send gift packages to Ireland in the coming weeks, here are some alternative solutions that could be worth considering..

1 . Shipping via private courier.

Make sure to research the cost involved for the weight/size of the package you are sending. It’s also a good idea to double check the expected delivery time and if the parcel will be tracked. Will there be any customs charges on arrival and does the recipient need to sign for it? All important to check before sending.

2 . Find something on Amazon.

The world’s go-to site when it comes to online shopping. Be mindful of where the item is coming from when you are ordering. Brexit has impacted the cost of ordering from UK to Ireland, so make sure to research the relevant custom/VAT charges that may apply. You don’t want the recipient to be landed with a bill when their parcel arrives. Delivery time is important no matter where you order from, and wise to look into when ordering from anywhere overseas.

3 . Shop online from a local Irish business.

Save yourself the hassle and stress of not having any custom fees, only paying local shipping fees and quicker delivery time, by shopping online from an Irish business. You know it’s being sent locally and there is less risk of it not showing up. You’re also supporting the local Irish economy at the same time as an added bonus!

woman shopping online on beach — Irish expat online shopping on Australian beach.

We advise not to leave your Christmas shopping until the last minute especially if sending them home from Australia. Everything is still up in the air and unpredictable at the moment, so it’s worth getting organised earlier to avoid the stress closer to Christmas.

If shopping local Irish gifts online is an option for you, then MarketStreet.ie has a great selection of thoughtful and meaningful gifts for your loved ones in Ireland. Take the stress out of shopping for presents online and find something they’ll love in plenty of time.

We'll Get You Sorted

Have you been affected by the suspension of post from Australia to Ireland? Let us know in the comments below…

New Baby Gift Ideas

Michele Ryan Gift Inspiration 0

17Sep

New Baby Gift Ideas Ireland

A new baby is a blessing! It’s a huge moment in the parents’ lives, and a great excitement for friends and family.

Everyone wants to choose the perfect baby gift for this wonderful bundle of joy that has been brought into the world, but it can be difficult! Let us save you some time!

At MarketStreet.ie we have a wonderful selection of handmade new baby gift ideas for you to find something special that they’ll love. Think personalised baby gifts, practical baby gifts, thoughtful baby gifts and keepsake baby gifts… we have it all and we’ll help you choose the perfect new baby gift that will wow!

And don’t forget a new baby card – we have plenty of Irish designed greeting cards for you to choose from too!

We’ve chosen some of our favourite gift ideas for new baby and split them into three categories to give you a better idea of what type of gift you might like to give..

Here are our Top 3 Personalised New Baby Gift Ideas

1. Personalised new baby frame to mark their arrival.

Something like this they can keep forever and show off in their nursery. We have a huge selection of personalised new baby frames to choose from.

New Arrival Soft Blue

2. Personalised baby patchwork quilt to keep baby cosy and can be used for years.

All baby quilts are handmade and some can be personalised with baby’s name. View more baby quilts and blankets.

Cath Kidston Inspired Baby Quilt

3. Personalised bunting to some colour and fun to the nursery / baby’s room.

Rainbow Name Bunting

3 Nice but also Practical New Baby Gift Ideas

1. Baby gift set which includes super soft handmade bib, sensory blanket, reusable wipes and nappy and wipes wallet.

These are something which any new parent will be delighted with and will get great use from. View more baby bibs and gift sets.

Baby Gift Set Hedgehog Turquoise

2. An organic cotton baby grow.

A baby can never have too many baby grows – that is a fact!! View our selection of baby sleepsuits.

Raspberry Grippy Zippy Sleepsuit

3. Soother chains.

Babies are always spitting out their soother’s so a soother chain will save the soother ending up the floor, and save a mammy a headache! Choose from silicone soother chains, real leather soother clips and cotton soother clips – view all soother chains.

Lyla Soother Chain

3 Keepsake New Baby Gift Ideas

1.Personalised Baby Girl Horse Shoe unique hand made gift, based on the old tradition of Good Luck. Each gift is made with genuine horse shoes and is also available as a new baby boy gift too!

Personalised Baby Girl Horse Shoe

2. Personalised new baby keepsake box for all those little things you want to keep forever…baby’s hospital bracelet, first shoes, photos and all those things to keep the memory alive!

Handmade Personalised Keepsake Box

3. Baby’s first shoes handmade from real leather. So many cute baby shoes to choose from!

Leather Baby Moccasin Shoes with Bows

All in all, that’s a good little variety of new baby gifts ideas for you to browse through.

Handmade baby gifts are unique, special and are made with love and care. These personalised gifts are made to order, and that means no two will ever be the exact same. That is the beauty about buying handmade.

SHOP ALL NEW BABY GIFTS IRELAND

Digital Business Ireland Winner

Michele Ryan Celebrate 0

13Aug

August 10, 2021

Article taken from Digital Business Ireland.

Former Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor will provide guidance, advice and support to our winner, Michele Ryan of marketstreet.ie

Michele Ryan of marketstreet.ie has been selected as the winner of the Digital Business Ireland Female Mentoring Initiative, and will now receive six, one-to-one mentoring sessions with former Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, and qualified Executive Business Coach, Mary Mitchell O’Connor.

Michele’s business is just two years old and it offers supports to local Irish businesses, artists and creators and the concept of selling traditional, hand-made products through a one-stop, online platform is a great example of the efficiency of ecommerce and how digital platforms have supported local Irish businesses.

Secretary General of Digital Business Ireland, Lorraine Higgins said “Digital Business Ireland’s Female Mentoring Initiative was established with the aim of supporting women across Ireland who have established a digital, online or ecommerce start-up in the last two years. While entries were highly competitive and many businesses struck a chord with us, there can only be one winner. Michele Ryan demonstrated to the judging panel how she supported many home-grown businesses as they dipped their toe into the digital sales channel. We applaud her for her work and fully recognise that her business values align with that of DBI’s which is why we are delighted to select Michele as a deserving winner of this mentoring package.”

Michele Ryan said “I am delighted to have been selected as winner of the Digital Business Ireland Female Mentoring Initiative with former Minister for Business, Mary Mitchell O’Connor. Setting up my own business has been both exciting and challenging. Having these one-to-one mentoring sessions with such an experienced business leader will be invaluable to me and my business. I’m excited to get started and very much looking forward to learning from Mary.

2 Years Of Irish Handmade Gifts Online

Michele Ryan Celebrate 0

06Jul

2 Years of Irish Handmade Gifts Online at MarketStreet.ie

We turned 2 earlier this year, and we want to celebrate! It’s been 2 years of unique creativity, special moments and loyal customers!

MarketStreet.ie started its journey with approx 30 Irish makers and a small but really special selection of gifts and cards. Since then we have welcomed many more unique creators and I am delighted that we now have over 200 small Irish businesses selling on MarketStreet.ie. Our range of handmade gifts now cover a wider choice of gift categories including Irish designed Jewellery, Baby/Child Gifts, Home & Living Decor, Pet Accessories, Greeting Cards, Fashion Accessories, Health & Wellbeing and so much more. There is a fantastic collection of gifts for every occasion!

MarketStreet.ie brings together creative Irish makers and designers from all across the island of Ireland, on one platform.

MarketStreet.ie is a one stop shop for you to support local and shop Irish when looking for Irish handmade gifts online.

Whether you are living in Ireland, Australia or somewhere else in the world…MarketStreet.ie gives you an easy solution to send gifts and cards to loved ones in Ireland (or abroad) for a special occasion or maybe even just a miss you card!

We have it all here. All our products are made or designed in Ireland and every purchase supports a local person, family and community. We love that you are supporting local Irish makers, so thank you for supporting our dreams!

Let’s celebrate Irish handmade gifts online

How are we celebrating?

Amazing handmade gifts are being given away on Instagram every week throughout the Summer.
A July Summer sale with great discounts on really fantastic gifts.
A FREE (super cute) downloadable nursery wall print for everyone – Coming soon so watch this space!

Make sure you are following us on Instagram to enter our giveaways.

Any likes, comments and shares on our posts really help our visibility on Instagram, and helps our business grow.

SHOP UNIQUE HANDMADE GIFTS.

Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas That Show You Care

Michele Ryan Gift Inspiration 0

01Feb

Let’s find something special, for someone special..

Flowers and chocolates – you can’t go wrong.. but you CAN do better!

We have some Valentine’s Day gift ideas to help you..Why not make your Valentine’s Day Gift even more special and thoughtful with a unique handmade gift this year… something unique that they’ll love.

From quirky Valentine’s Day cards to stunning jewellery to personalised gifts and everything in between, you can be sure you’ll find the perfect Valentine’s gift and still buy Irish on MarketStreet.ie. Take a look at some of our suggested Valentine’s Day gift ideas for him and for her below.

Click any of the images to shop the item or click on any of the links for more gift inspiration in that category 🙂

Irish Designed Valentine’s Day Cards

A selection of funny, soppy, cheeky and unique Valentine’s Day cards to suit for her or for him!

. .

GIFTS FOR HER

Special Valentine’s Day flowers that will last

Valentine’s Day flowers are generally the safe, traditional option when it comes to choosing a Valentine’s Day gift. What if we told you you could gift them flowers with a twist this year! The flowers that we have on MarketStreet.ie are truly unique, with some that will even last forever!

There are crepe paper flowers which look so life like it’s unreal the amount of time and care that goes into making each one. Then there are crochet flowers in little plant pots that are cute and decorative, perfect for those that are not huge fans of real flowers. We also have preserved flower bouquets that can last up to a year and they are just divine! Choose flowers a little different this year.

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Handmade Irish Jewellery for Valentine’s Day

Inspired by their own interests and passions, our Irish Jewellery Makers put so much love and thought into each piece of jewellery they make. Unique Irish designed Jewellery is bound to a hit with your special someone this Valentine’s Day!

Unique, quirky and unusual Valentine’s Day gifts

Get them a Valentine’s Day surprise.. something fun, something unique and something they’ll love you for even more!

Whether it’s something to help them through lockdown, something for their hobby, something cute, a thoughtful keepsake or just something simple but nice… take your pick from a great choice of Irish made gifts!

GIFTS FOR HIM

Buying for guys is never easy, but we have a great selection of Valentine’s Gifts gifts for men this year. So whether it’s a bit of man self-care, something personalised, something man-ish or something for his hobby, take a look at our unique choices of men’s gifts for Valentine’s Day.

Hopefully these Valentine’s Day gift ideas help you on your shopping mission, and I’m sure they’ll love what you choose!

SHOP MORE VALENTINE”S DAY GIFTS

Thank you for supporting local and shopping Irish made gifts.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Lockdown Gift Ideas..

Michele Ryan Gift Inspiration create magic, flowers, learn something new, lockdown gifts, look after yourself, motivational prints, pamper your pet, pamper yourself, send a card, send a gift, wellness 0

15Jan

Let’s brighten up lockdown..

Our makers love doing what they do so we want to help you do what you love to do, even if just for a few moments every day.

Here are 15 lockdown gift ideas for yourself or someone else to brighten dark days and to help you feel more positive and ready for the world when it’s open again!

Lockdown Gift Ideas:

Keep in touch with friends and family the traditional way – post a card. Something to put a smile on their face when they receive it in the post and know that someone is thinking about them. We have so many wonderfully unique and relevant Irish designed lockdown cards.
Bring out your creative side. Spend some time drawing or painting in a beautifully embroidered Irish Linen covered Sketchbook, perfect for all your drawing needs. Maybe you don’t draw or paint, why not try? You might surprise yourself and even enjoy it.
Plan and organise. Plan life after lockdown with an Irish designed 2021 calendar. Or maybe your like me and love a good list…get all your to-do lists together and organise your life in this Rua The Cow A5 Notebook.
Keep your brain ticking over with some good old fashion brainteasers and puzzles.
Bake. Look good while baking with this cafe-style apron in a classic blue and white stripe with denim pocket. And how about drying up with one our Irish designed tea towels then when you’re finished making a mess!
Learn something new. Try sewing your own face mask, or sewing a lovely hanging decoration. All sewing patterns are ideal for beginners.
Look after your skin with natural and organic Irish skincare products and natural face soaps.
Create a big of magic in the house for the kids with one these fabulously colourful and unique fairy doors.
Relax and destress the mind and body with an aromatherapy candle or your favourite scented Irishmade candle.
Don’t forget your furry friends. Pamper your pet with one of these eco-friendly pamper gift boxes for dogs.
Give nature a helping hand with some wildflower seedbombs while out walking, so come Spring there will be a bit more colour on your walking route.
Keep the kids entertained with these wooden activity kits.
Add a motivational print or a little bit of colour to your home working space to help keep you going on difficult days.
Help a little one with their worries with this reassuring wellness doll who helps children especially at bedtime.
Send flowers that last (to yourself or someone else!). Let’s face it, who doesn’t like receiving a delivery flowers, and especially when they last for a year or more! Choose from crepe paper flowers that last forever, a super cute crochet cactus or tulip in a pot, or a luxury arrangement of preserved flowers.

We hope these lockdown gift ideas will give you some gift shopping inspiration!

Whatever it is you do to fill your time, be happy and stay safe!

And remember to support Irish when shopping online 🙂

SHOP MORE UNIQUE GIFTS

New Nationwide Campaign

Michele Ryan Support Local made local, shop irish, support local 0

05Aug

#MADELOCAL CAMPAIGN

The Irish craft and design industry is a significant contributor to regional economies. Last week, on the 29th July, the Design and Craft Council of Ireland (DCCI) launched a nationwide campaign to encourage and boost revenue for local retailers and makers.

The #MADELOCAL campaign was officially launched by Amy Huberman and An Tanaiste, Leo Varadkar and Market Street are delighted to be part of it!

So, if you have been seeing the above blue tile across your social media feeds and in stores, it’s to inspire you to support local businesses when you’re on your staycation this year! The Made Local campaign aims to remind consumers of the high-quality, unique products available from Irish makers and designers across the country. MarketStreet.ie has over 140 registered sellers from across the island of Ireland, specialising in unique and personalised handcrafts.

Pic: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

Announcing the launch of the campaign, An Tánaiste and Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD, said:

“Ireland is renowned for its exceptionally talented designers and craftspeople who create beautiful work which is exported around the world. These makers and the retailers make a significant contribution to the Irish economy and provide sustainable employment. The Government’s July Jobs Stimulus will help businesses to reopen and rehire or retain staff, through an enhanced Restart Grant and an extension to the wage subsidy scheme. We can all play our part; by backing the Made Local campaign, we can help our vibrant Irish design and craft sector to return to prosperity and growth.”

Commenting on the Made Local campaign, Actor and Writer Amy Huberman, said,

“I am so delighted to support the Made Local campaign. Following a very difficult few months due to COVID-19, it is important to make a conscious effort to help local craft businesses in Ireland. Our country is full of some of the most talented designers and craftspeople in the world and we are so lucky to have such beautiful produce right here on this island. We would like to encourage consumers to think before they shop and give our local makers a chance to thrive over the coming months.”

CHRISTMAS GIFTS UNDER €20

Michele Ryan Gift Inspiration, Support Local christmas, christmas gift, gift guide, secret santa, stocking filler, under €20 0

19Nov

MARKET STREET CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE FOR CHRISTMAS GIFTS UNDER €20

Christmas is an expensive time of year and it can be hard to find fun and quirky gifts for everyone.

Here I have chosen some of my fave items on Market Street for less than €20, great as a Christmas gift for him or her. Give as a gift, a stocking filler, a secret Santa gift, or maybe you deserve a little gift for yourself this Christmas!

These are all made by Irish designers and crafters.

(Please note that the prices listed below are all exclusive of shipping. Each seller has their own shipping charge and is detailed on the product page)

14 Christmas gifts under €20

1.Honey and Bergamot Candle in Concrete candle holder – €16.95

(More scents available. )

Ideal gift for him or her – nothing like a yummy scented candle to help you relax after a busy day or week. The concrete holder makes it more of a unique gift, and sure who doesn’t like getting candles!?

Honey and Bergamot Candle

2. ‘Gym V Junk’ Funny Illustration – €18

More choice in illustrations available.

These funny illustrations make for a great gift for anyone with a sense of humour! I love this one..I’m definitely the junk machine lover haha!! More to choose from so you can find the perfect and unique Christmas gift for anyone!

Gym vs Junk

3. Rustic Wall Mounted Bottle Opener – €20

(More designs available)

Great gift idea for him. These rustic bottle openers are easily mounted on the wall and catch the bottle lids nice and tidy so no need to be finding random bottle lids lying around the house!

Rustic Wall Mounted Bottle Opener – The Best Beer is..

4. Macrame Plant Hanger – €17

(More colours and lengths of these plant hangers to choose from)

Fabulous and quirky homeware gift to make any home a happy home!

Bright Blue Macrame Plant Hanger

5. Embroidered Irish linen lavender sachet – €8

Lovely Christmas gift for her to help with sleep or maybe someone who travels a lot. Keep clothes smelling fresh in a suitcase, and even in the wardrobe at home. The detail in the embroidery is fab and makes it even more unique.

(Product no longer available)

6.Family House Rules Print – €15

(More fun and feel good prints to choose from suitable for kids rooms, as well as homes and offices!)

House Rules

7. Quirky Irish fridge magnet – €5.95

(Lots more magnets to choose from)

These clay magnets are fun and unique, and have a choice of all things Irish. Personalised Dublin street sign magnet is available too – choose what you want written on it, choose from Dublin locations, or make it unique! Great stocking filler or secret Santa gift.

Irish Weather Fridge Magnet

8. In Case of an Emergency Frame – €20

A fun gift for anyone this Christmas. Who wouldn’t want a spare €100 close by in case of an emergency after all 😉

‘In Case of an Emergency’ Quirky Gift

9. Chill Out Tote Bag – €10

(Choose from more designs)

These tote bags are a handy and practical gift for her. She can use it for nipping to the shops, throwing in shoes for work, out and about or pretty much anything!

Chill Out! Tote Bag

10. Bonnie the Scottie Dog Felt Ornament – €18

(More dogs and colours to choose from – all equally as cute!)

Thoughtful and cute gift for any dog owner. They would love this to hang on the Christmas tree and to display elsewhere for the rest of the year as it is not Christmas specific!

Bonnie the Scottie Dog Felt Ornament

11. ‘In Gin We Trust’ Print – Downloadable File €10 / Unframed Print €15

We all know a gin lover – and this would make a great addition to their home!

In Gin We Trust Print

12. Personalised Luggage Tag – €8

(Embroidered letter comes in green, blue or pink)

Handy travel accessory for anyone, making it an ideal Christmas gift for those that like to travel or maybe they are heading off somewhere nice for Christmas or New Years that they can use it for!

Luggage Tag Monogrammed

13. Wooden Geometric Isolde Earrings – €14

(More styles under €20 also available)

A nice little fashion accessory gift for her. Always a great gift idea, and there are plenty of affordable and stylish earrings in this range to choose from!

Isolde Earrings

14. Personalised Metal Straw – €6

(Choose pink, blue, purple or red)

These personalised straws are eco-friendly and would make an ideal stocking filler or secret santa gift for anyone who loves their cocktails. Or maybe just someone who likes to drink out of a straw no matter what the drink is 😉

Personalised Metal Straw

To go alongside these wonderful Irish made Christmas gifts under €20, we have some fabulous Irish designed Christmas cards from €3 per card.

If you can, try to support local this Christmas and try make at least one purchase from an Irish maker – they will really appreciate it a lot more than a large global retailer! 🙂

SHOP ALL CHRISTMAS GIFTS

Happy Shopping!

MARKET REVIEW – BUSHY PARK MARKET, DUBLIN

Michele Ryan Market Reviews, Support Local bushy park market, craft market, local market, support local, weekend market 0

02Sep

Where

Bushy Park is in between Terenure and Templeogue Villages (Dublin 6W) on Templeogue Road. The market is in the Northern corner of the park near the Rathdown Ave entrance.

When

The village market is on every Saturday from 10am – 4pm from March to October.

The Market

They have around 30 stalls each week, many of which are there every week though around 25% of the stalls changes quite regularly. There are great food choices to be had, with options available for vegans and carnivores with everything in-between. Our personal favourites are the chips from the Surf ‘n’ Fries stall. I don’t know what they do to them but these are by far the best chips we have ever tasted.

There are also fresh organic food fruit and veg stalls if you’re on a health kick health and plenty of cakes, doughnuts and all things sweet to tempt you if you’re not.

The arts and crafts stalls change a good bit but will always have a good variety of unique handmade gifts and crafts to choose from. The craft stalls generally have unique and personalised gifts for new baby, new home, wedding and engagements, birthdays or even just to treat yourself! We have often seen some of our Market Street sellers there such as.

Emma Higgins Art there selling her colourful artwork,
Pictures 4 Life with their unique personalised frames for all occasions,
BBpapercuts with their very contemporary art maps, and
Woof Stuff with their trendy little dog bandanas and treats.

We’ve also seen picture framers selling prints and photographs (and really cool old maps of Dublin), a Polish potter with lovely flatware and tea sets, some very cool up-cycled furniture and a range of other gifts and decorative handcrafts.

As there are only a handful of craft stalls selling unique and quirky handcrafts that is one of the things we would like to see more of.

Market Events

They have occasional family fun days through the summer with games and activities for children, as well as small petting farms with rabbits and sheep. They run an international food day once a year with dozens and dozens of food stalls with food cuisines from all around the world. There is an Easter market where the Easter bunny will make a visit, and usually a popular kiddy favourite on family fun day. This summer Paw Patrol’s Chase and Marshall made an appearance. We found the best way to keep up to date is to follow their Facebook page which is well run and regularly updated with upcoming events.

Facilities

There are a few picnic benches set out next to the market. There is also a basket full of picnic blankets for you sit on the grass and feast, and a big bottle of sun cream tied to a tree for you to use if you forgot yours (which is a nice touch). If you need a toilet, there are two on site (portacabin style but clean) with hand sanitiser for afterwards.

Away from the market, Bushy Park is one of the better Dublin City parks. It has a really nice, recently renovated playground with something for kids of all ages and a lovely duck pond to walk (or jog) around. You will also find a nice wooded area with streams, brooks and bridges to explore as well as plenty of green space and pitches. There’s a fenced off skateboard park right next to the recently refurbished tennis and padel club, which is beside Sportworld Running Club clubhouse.

With summer outdoor yoga and bootcamp classes held next to the recently done up bandstand, there really is something for everyone in Bushy Park. We go there with the kids at least once a month and have a fun day out every time!

Our Rating

We really love this market but feel the number of craft stalls could be increased. Apart from that it has everything else you want from a local park market.

Market Street rating: 4 out of 5 stars

love markets local market support small irish businesses

WHAT MAKES A GREAT MARKET

Michele Ryan Market Reviews, Support Local Craft Stalls, Family Markets, Farmers Market, Local Markets, Market Reviews 0

06Aug

What makes a good (farmers) market?

Traditionally farmers markets were places where farmers would gather to sell their produce directly to customers, and there are still many farmers markets in Ireland still doing exactly that.

However, in recent years, the term ‘farmers market’ has taken on a broader sense, especially in large towns and cities. In these instances, farmers markets usually include interesting homemade street food vendors, locally produced baked goods and sweets, great coffee and tea and finally an interesting selection of hand-made gifts, textiles, antiques and artworks. Things you won’t find easily in the shops or online (apart from on MarketStreet.ie of course!). There are no hard and fast rules for what you might find at a farmers market but generally, everything you buy was made locally and nothing is mass-produced.

The number of farmers markets in Ireland has exploded in recent years with there being over 50 regular farmers/craft market in Dublin alone.

So what makes a good farmers market? Here are our thoughts…

Good choice of food and drinks

Variety is key, we like to see choices for everyone, a good farmers market should have something to suit vegans and carnivores. We like to see unusual cuisine represented alongside the more standard fare of burgers and falafel (we love both of these). Cakes, treats and handmade ice-cream never go a-miss either. Finally coffee, a bugbear of ours are big markets with only one coffee vendor and massive queues.

Interesting and unique gifts and handcrafts

If we travel to a market we usually want to be able to spend an hour or two there at least, and we don’t want to spend the whole time eating otherwise we’ll need an entirely new wardrobe of larger clothes! So it’s important for us to be able to potter around looking at unique and interesting crafts. Again, variety is key, we like to see original artwork, personalised frames and gifts, textiles and accessories, homemade soaps and candles, unique wooden toys etc. It’s exciting to be able to support small Irish businesses and buy unique and handmade things at the same time!

Entertainment

Rather the exception than the norm, having some kind of entertainment really can be the icing on the cake when it comes to a great market. By entertainment, we mean anything at the market that you can’t buy to eat/take home with you. For example, music – maybe a guy with a guitar or a small band, games for kids, face painting, petting zoos, street artists (e.g. jugglers). This really can make a difference and make us want to return. Some of the markets we go to have entertainment some weeks for special ‘occasions’, but not others, so it can be worth doing some research before choosing where to head for the day.

Organisation

The layout of a farmers market is important. There needs to be space for people to stop and look at things and have a chat with the makers at the stall without causing a traffic jam. The food stalls at most markets we go to get more of the footfall so it’s good to have them at both ends of the market as this pulls people across the stalls of the makers giving them a better chance to market their wares. Access to parking is also important, no one wants to spend ages looking for a space on-street and pay and display can be a real turnoff if expensive or you don’t have any change on you, so for us parking can’t be too much of a faff.

Facilities

You can split the facilities that make a good farmers market into two groups, firstly the facilities specifically set up to service the market, those being places to sit, to eat drink and chat, toilets for after eating and drinking, and perhaps somewhere to shelter if it rains. But if you’re driving somewhere to spend a few hours or even half a day at the weekend you probably need a bit more than that. These broader facilities could include a good playground for the kids to play in, a wide-open area for you to take your dog for a walk, other activities to engage in while you are there (e.g. yoga classes or boot camps).

All of these added together, we think, makes a good market a great one.

Market Reviews

With this in mind, we intend to write up some reviews of local markets we have attended based on the above criteria. Starting with a favourite of ours – Bushy Park Market, Dublin 6W.

What makes a great market for you? Have we missed anything here? What are a few of your favourite markets you think we should review?

We’d love to hear from you.

WE’RE ALL GOING ON OUR SUMMER HOLIDAYS..

Michele Ryan Gift Inspiration gift ideas, holiday shopping, travel accessories 0

07Jun

TRAVEL ACCESSORIES

Who doesn’t love a summer holiday?!! And of course what comes hand in hand with going on holidays?? Yes, shopping for holidays!! Planning and getting organised for holidays can be a busy and stressful time especially if there’s kids to pack for! To help save you time running around the shops looking to pick up some fun and quirky travel accessories, we have put together our top holiday travel picks to help make your holidays (or someone else’s) even more enjoyable (and stylish!) 😃🌴☀️✈️🛳

1. Cross body bag – €65

Perfect for out and about while away, as well as for carrying the essentials while on the plane/train/boat/bus! More designs and sizes available. Also handy for carry baby changing things too!

Amy Small Cross Body Zip Top Bag – Blue Meadow

2. Lavender sachet – €8

Keep clothes smelling fresh in the suitcase. Choose from 3 colours.

(Product no longer available)

3. Monogrammed luggage tag – €8

Lovely stylish little travel accessory. Initial comes in green, pink or blue.

Luggage Tag Monogrammed

4. Waterproof unisex bag – €120

These bags can be worn in multiple ways using a clip and are weather/waterproof. Perfect bag for the beach or an adventure holiday! Choice in designs.

WBW 1000 [UA] Messenger Bag / Dun Aengus

5. Soother chain – €10.20

We don’t want a baby crying over a lost soother now do we!! Lots of colour and personalisation choices available.

Drew Soother Chain

6. Kids wooden activity set – €22

Travel hassle-free – keep the kids entertained with this wooden activity set to put together and colour! More choices available

Flutter Pond Pirate Activity Kit

7. Cloth pencil case – €15

Keep their colours together in this cool pencil roll. (Colouring pencils included)

Fabric Colouring Pencil Roll

8. Teddy with sleeping bag and passport – €15

Well these are cute for a little one’s first holiday, or any little one’s holiday to keep a record of all their amazing memories!

Choice of six teddies available.

Soft Toy Flamingo in a Sleeping Bag with her own Passport

9. Linen covered sketchbook – €27

Ideal for those looking to relax while away!

(Product no longer available)

These are just a small selection of the quirky travel accessories available on Market Street. View more here.

Let us know in the comments below where you’re off to on holidays…always fun to see where people are going and get some inspiration for our next holiday 🙂

THANK YOU DAD!

Michele Ryan Gift Inspiration father's day, fun gifts, gift ideas, gift inspiration, gifts for dad, gifts for him, personalised gifts, simple gifts, thoughtful gifts 0

09May

GIFT IDEAS FOR DAD..

[Updated May 2021]

Father’s Day is almost upon us (Sunday 20th June 2021 in Ireland) which often brings a ‘scratch-the-head’ moment of what to get dad! When asking dad for some ideas, they generally say they have everything already, so you’re really none the wiser and then it’s left to the last minute in a panic.

As we know, dad’s are not all the same so getting the perfect gift for dad is not as easy as it might be for someone else. There are the sporty dads, the foody dads, the techy dads, the health conscious dads, the dads who like beer and so on.

We have a unique choice fun and quirky Father’s Day gifts, so you can give him something a little different for a change. After all, it’s nice to get something they’ll love to say thanks for all they do!

But it doesn’t stop there…we realise there are so many special dads to be, grandads, great-grandads, uncles and bothers that need to be celebrated too, so we have some Father’s Day gift ideas for them too.

Here are some of our favourite Irish made gift ideas for dad ..

1. Handmade Wooden Beer Caddy – €45

For the beer loving dads! (Beer not included!)

Beer Caddy

2. Wooden Sunglasses – €64

Perfect gift for the stylish dads.

TRAD Green Sunglasses

3. A hug for grandad – €15

For the grandad we haven’t been able to hug because of Covid..

Also available for as a hug dad or someone special.

A Hug for Grandad Decoration

4. LFC Vinyl Record – €25.99

For the Liverpool loving dads.

LFC Vinyl Record

5. Scrabble Art Frame – €27

For the sentimental dads and grandads..

Dad/Daddy/Father/Grandad/Uncle Scrabble Art Frame

6. Special keepsake gift – €25

A really thoughtful gift for dad that he’ll keep forever.

Your Child’s Art Embroidery

7. Irish Bog Ballpoint Pen – €55-€60

For the dads that love a good pen…for work, for crosswords or just for using to write the shopping list!

More Irish Bog Pens to choose from.

Irish Bog Oak Pewter Ballpoint Pen

8. Personalised Controller Holder – €25

For the computer games loving dads!

Personalised Controller Holder

9. Personalised Cufflinks – €155

For the stylish dad that appreciates cufflinks and sentiment, these are your gift!

Sterling Silver Personalised Ogham Cufflinks

10. Gift Book and Socks – €15

A special gift for grandad from a little person…

Also available as a gift set for dad too.

Grandpa Gift Book with Socks

11. Fridge Magnet – €5.95

A fun and quirky little gift for any dad.

Love Me Da Fridge Magnet

12. Sports bag – €120

This waterproof and Irish landscape print bag is for the sporty and adventurous dad!

WBW 1000 [UA] Messenger Bag / Dry Stone Wall

13. Puzzle – €15

For dads that love a challenge..

More puzzles to choose from

Impossible Puzzle (9 Piece Tangram Type)

14. Personalised Scooter Print – €59-€79

Personalise with any special and meaningful words, phrases and names.

Scooter Kid Print

15. Beard Care Set – €29.99

For the bearded dad..

Beard Care Gift Set

16. Charlie Chaplin Line Illustration – €35-€55

A lovely gift for any dad. More illustrations of iconic Irish sculptures to choose from.

Charlie Chaplin – Line Illustration

17. Daddy and Me – €38.99

A special gift for a special daddy!

Daddy and Me

18. Personalised ‘Bump’ Photoframe – €27

Ideal surprise gift for daddy to be..

Happy Father’s Day from Bump

19. Phone Holder – €25

What dad doesn’t love his phone?!!

Kildorrery Phone Holder

And of course what’s an occasion without a card..

20. Funny Father’s Day Card

Lots of more Father’s Day cards to choose from, all designed in Ireland!

Funny Father’s Day Card – Happy Farter’s Day!

Finding perfect Father’s day gifts is never easy so we hope our gift ideas for dad helped. They’re also great gift gifts for dad all year round if you want to show him how special he is!

Supporting local Irish makers and designers when shopping for your gift means the world to us. If you have any questions on any of the above gifts or would like some help choosing a gift, please get in touch hello@marketstreet.ie

Happy Father’s Day from MarketStreet.ie

10 UNIQUE WEDDING GIFT IDEAS…

Michele Ryan Gift Inspiration gift ideas, gift inspiration, personalised gifts, unique gifts, wedding gifts 0

07May

WEDDING GIFTS…TO HAVE AND TO HOLD!

Most couples nowadays are saving for their honeymoon or a house, or spending all their savings on their big day, and so prefer to receive money rather than wedding gifts.

However, depending on who the special couple are and your relationship with them, you may want to give something a little different and get them a unique and personalised wedding gift as a keepsake of their special day.

Trying to decide what wedding gift to buy can be a headache, so here at Market Street we have put together some truly special and unique wedding gift ideas for all budgets, to help you choose the perfect wedding gift for the perfect couple!

10 Unique Wedding Gifts

1. Wedding Card – €3

A detailed hand-drawn illustration wedding greeting card.
https://marketstreet.ie/product/strawberries-wedding-card/

2. Monogrammed Luggage Tags for the honeymoon – €8

A quirky gift to start their journey together as Mr and Mrs.
https://marketstreet.ie/product/luggage-tag-monogrammed/

3. Commissioned Painting – When the Story Began €75

A thoughtful and unique gift, bound to be treasured forever.

Commissioned Engagement Painting

4. Personalised Pebble Art Wedding Day – €65

A unique wedding gift for a unique couple.

Wedding Day – Irish Pebbleart

5. Personalised Heart Balloons Print – €29.99

An elegant personalised keepsake for their big day.

Love Heart Balloon Frame

6. Handmade Ceramic Planter – €28

A piece of handcrafted home decor to add to their home as Mr and Mrs.

Navy Stripe Tapered Planter

7. We Go Together Personalised Print – €39-€59

A fun gift for a fun loving couple to hang on their wall.

We Go Together Print

8. Personalised Mr&Mrs Frame – €30

A lovely wedding keepsake to remember their big day.

Wedding – Mr&Mrs

8. Jewellery – Cufflinks For Him and Necklace For Her – €125 / €89

Something a little more personal without being personalised.

I Am Dreaming Medium Pendant – Silver

I Am Dreaming Cufflinks – Silver

10. An Original Painting – €200

Something different, inspiring and original.
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These are just a small selection of the amazing gifts available, view more wedding gifts.

Leave us a comment below to let us know what type of wedding gift you like to give (or would like to receive!)…

SHOP ALL WEDDING GIFTS

shop local unique gifts small irish businesses

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE LOCAL

Michele Ryan Support Local handmade gifts, irish makers, shop irish, support local, unique gifts 0

17Apr

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE LOCAL

Irish online shoppers

Irish people love being Irish. And why wouldn’t we?! Always up for the craic and wanting to have a laugh, we’re known for our good manners and of course our love for the black stuff…tea that is 😉

So why is it when it comes to online shopping we could be better at supporting local? Did you know that the Irish are the biggest international online shoppers in the world? According to a report in the Irish Times in 2018, 84% of Irish online shoppers purchased from overseas sellers ahead of local. That’s shocking!

However, in my opinion and from previous experience, part of this may be down to the fact that’s it’s not always easy to find what we’re looking for from Irish sellers online. When it comes to digital expertise, small Irish businesses are not the best (according to Ireland Digital Health Index), but that’s not to say that what these SMEs do and create isn’t the best! It just means we have been forced to shop overseas to find what we’re looking for in unique gifts.

Support local for unique gifts

When it comes to finding something different and unique, many of us resort to online shopping, especially when it comes to gifts. Nowadays giving personalised gifts and unique gifts for any occasion, is the norm. It’s nice to give and also to receive a gift that someone has put some thought into..something handmade and personalised, you know they have put more effort in and it means more. With plenty of choice to buy unique gifts online from overseas, we are missing the opportunity to support local makers because we can’t find them!

Over the last 6 months in particular I have been to quite a lot of local fairs and markets across the country and have come across some AMAZING talent and FABULOUS products that make a perfect gift! I honestly have wanted to buy everything! It’s such a shame I didn’t know about all of these makers and their creations before now because they really are special. This is why Market Street is here today. You NEED to see this stuff!

Without sounding cheesy, Market Street supports the dreams of these small Irish businesses and gives us the opportunity to support local and shop Irish.

My top 5 reasons why there’s no place like local when looking for the perfect gift..

We are supporting someone’s dream to be able to make what they make and earn a living from it. Someday this could be you and wouldn’t you like the support from Irish shoppers?!
We are supporting local jobs for these makers as well as all the suppliers and businesses they interact with to carry out their business. You may be for one of these people or work for them, and isn’t it nice to have a job!
We are investing in and encouraging local entrepreneurship so we benefit from unique products made with passion and care. We all love something different!
We are showcasing the local talent that lives amongst us.. Like seriously, the talent is unreal!
And finally, be proud to support Irish!

Need I say more?

Just check out some of the amazing and unique gifts available on marketstreet.ie and you won’t need convincing!

Support Local.

Shop Irish.

We’re continually working to add new sellers and new products, but if there are any other types of gifts or products you would like to see available on Market Street, just leave a comment below..