Sew far, sew good for 35 years of Country Markets
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Tommy Moughty and Mary Walsh from Ballynacargy.Image 2 of 9
Lesley Tynan, Anne Eivers and Una Stephens on Friday week last in Ballynacargy.Image 3 of 9
Matthew Ginnell Troy, Aideen Ginnell, Anna Marcello and Maria Ginnell Troy at the country market.Image 4 of 9
Emma Hannon and Megan Joyce from Mullingar.Image 5 of 9
Mary Casserly Gavin from Ballynacargy and Eleanor McArdle from Mullingar.Image 6 of 9
Aoife and Anna Dunleavey played banjo at the Ballynacargy Country Markets 35-year event.Image 7 of 9
Moe Heduan and Mary McGuinness from Milltown.Image 8 of 9
Josephine Purcell from Mullingar, Betty Murtagh from Milltown and Catherine Gibson Brabazon from Rathconrath.Image 9 of 9
Joan Murtagh from Ballynacargy with Joe O’Hehir and Pat Geoghegan from Mullingar.Kate Pendred
A large crowd gathered in Ballynacargy parochial hall last Friday week to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Country Market. After the ceremonial cutting of the cake, baked and cut by Mary Walsh, the crowd enjoyed refreshments and entertainment.
Members of the local Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann branch, sisters Anna and Aoife Dunleavy on banjo, and set dancers Isobel Maher, Katie Keon and Kallie and Farrah Moughty, along with local raconteur Moe Heduan provided the entertainment.
Three of the founder members of the Ballynacargy Country Market were present – Anne Eivers, current chairperson, Catherine Gibson-Brabazon and Mary Casserly-Gavin.
Anne reported that there has been a significant upsurge in interest in the Country Market in recent years. “People want to buy local products and are prepared to pay that little bit extra to get non-mass produced goods,” she said.
She said there is “a vibrant young committee”, including “four lovely new members”. There are eight on the committee, all of whom supply produce to be sold at the Country Market every Friday from 9.30am to 12 noon in the parochial hall.
The produce include a wide array of local farm produce, baked goods, knitwear and crocheted items, jams, chutneys, local honey, eggs and, a new departure, handmade wellness products, as well as arts and crafts, greeting cards, decorations and more.
Anne stressed that the Country Market is community based, a place for local people to come together. She was delighted at “the great crowd that turned out to celebrate our 35th birthday”.
The wellness stalls are a new departure for the Country Market and are run by Emma Hannon and Emeline Callan, both from Mullingar.
Emma started off making scented candles and wax melt bars last March. She has since expanded her range into handmade stationary inspired by the Irish language. “The main focus is on positive mental health and trying to bring back the Irish language,” she explained.
Emeline supplies sustainable, reusable cleaning products including environmentally friendly dish washer brushes and scrubs. There are no plastics, no micro plastics and no chemicals used in the making of her products, she said.
Emeline came across the Country Market online and approached them. “It is a very different type of market, a very different demographic,” she said, adding, “it is nice to be involved in a small community close to home.”