Backlash over plans to introduce charge for Trim Christmas Market sees adult fee waived

A furious backlash on social media over plans to introduce an admission fee for next month's Trim Christmas Market has led to the organisers rowing back on the intended €5 charge for adults and €3 for children.

Instead, Bespoke Advertisting, the company behind the market, is to waive the adults charge and charge €5 per child to cover access to the children's activities on the day. On Friday children can visit Santa's grotto and receive a present while there will be six performances of the Spectacular Singing Santa Show and Puppet Panto Shows on Saturday and Sunday.

This is the third year of the market but the first where the council will not be providing any funding and Bespoke Advertising say they had no choice but to introduce an admission fee to cover the huge costs associated with running the event.

For the past two years, the event took place on Market Street, which was closed to traffic, but this year it will be in a new location in the Emmett Street Car Park from 7th to 9th December.

The vintage carousel will be returning along with other funfair attractions to bring the Christmas festival atmosphere with stalls selling everything from hot food to candles, and Christmas decorations to personalised gifts to knitwear.

Stuart Montgomery of Bespoke Advertising explained the cost was necessary to cover the cost of running the event but admitted that adults and families with older children may not see the benefit in paying in to shop at the market and they had decided to waive the adult charge. He added that the children's charge was "well below  what you would expect to pay at any santa's grotto or santa experience at a Christmas event around Ireland".

"I can understand why people are concerned about the introduction of a fee but we feel it is exceptional value for money given the range of activities we have lined up over the weekend," he said.

Explaining the rationale behind introducing a charge Mr Montgomery said: "We are not getting any funding from the council this year and we had to make a decision as to whether to go ahead. We built it up to be the success it is over the last couple of years and the market has been very beneficial for local businesses and in bringing people outside the town in to do their festive shopping.

"In light of not receiving funding, we have no choice but to introduce a small fee to off set the huge costs involved in running this event such as the marquee, lighting, sound, staff, advertising and insurance. 

"We have moved to a smaller location so will have less exhibitors which has reduced our revenue stream for the event. Between the lack of funding and the smaller space, for it to work we had no option but to ask for  small admission fee at the gate."