Home Producers Market, BALLA

25/12/2021

Wishing everyone a very Happy Christmas and a Happy & Healthy 2002 🌲

21/12/2021

THANK YOU

A big thank you to all stallholders who put on a great display at our Christmas Market on 5 December. To our friends and visitors on the day, thanks for coming along and making it a very enjoyable day.

It’s a busy time of year for crafters and stallholders alike. It’s not only making sure you have sufficient stock to sell over the Christmas period especially if you’re attending more than one market but everything has to be wrapped, loaded, transported to the venue and set out. That’s before the days really even started! The process is then reversed at end of day and that armchair and cuppa are well deserved.

So why do we do it? We love what we do, there’s a great sense of self satisfaction in making/growing something. Even better if someone else likes your wares and buys one but the social side is just as important. Markets offer sociability, friendship and like minded people, a break from routine and can become an important part of any community. Although there have been quite a few around this year as crafters and hobbyists try to move some stock built up during the Covid period, they seem to be diminishing in number. It seems we may be losing quite a few “old hands” - people age, find other interests or just can’t keep up with the pace. Prices for raw materials have shot up whether it’s fabric, yarn or flour, making the finished product quite expensive. However its worth considering the time taken to produce something by hand that’s important. In a world of mass production it’s easy to forget just how much time and effort has gone into the items on sale.

Without producers there would be no markets. Buying at markets shouldn’t be a cheap option. What you are getting is unique, every item will be different in some way or other. So let’s encourage the wider public to visit markets, share our interests and maybe try something themselves or just meet their friends for a chat with a cuppa. If we don’t support markets in all ways possible they will gradually disappear, it’s up to everyone to ensure their survival. As they say USE IT OR LOSE IT!!

Happy Christmas to all and thank you again for you support in 2021.

05/12/2021

UPDATE - OWNER LOCATED AND PHONE RETURNED
FOUND SAMSUNG MOBILE PHONE AFTER MARKET TODAY

Musical ringtone coming from one of my bags this evening. Investigation revealed a Sumsung mobile phone, pearlish blue on reverse. Unsure how it got into my bag but just happy I wasn’t losing the plot, hearing odd music from time to time.
If it’s yours, give me a call if you can borrow a phone that is and we’ll sort out some way of getting it back to you! 😳😳

05/12/2021

FOR ONE DAY ONLY!

Whatever you do, don’t sleep in this morning and miss all the wonderful gifts on display at out Christmas Market! We’ll be open from 12.00 until 4pm at Balla Community Resource Centre in the Square. You’ll find beautiful crafts available, ideal for Christmas presents and stocking fillers, as well as delicious home baking, sweets, honey and much much more.

We’re really looking forward to meeting lots of visitors and friends. But the day doesn’t finish then, they’ll be the Christmas tractor run always a great spectacle, the switching on of the lights plus a visit from Santy! Something for all the family to enjoy - so no afternoon naps, come and join in the fun.

See you there!

29/11/2021

TIMELESS GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS
A beautiful photo from one of our stallholders this Sunday at our Christmas Market. They’ll be lots of lovely gifts to choose from including a fine selection from JR Shots. 😀

A colourful morning - not a bad way to start the week 😉
Hope everyone has a great Monday!! Hope to see some of you at the Home Producers Market, BALLA on Sunday 😍

14/11/2021

An object that is hand crafted, is always special.

11/11/2021

THEY TOO HAD NO CHOICE 💜💜💜

No words, just thoughts and gratitude everyday.

05/11/2021

PLANNING YOUR CHRISTMAS PRESENT LIST?

Visit a local market, you’ll be surprised at the diversity of goods available 😃

03/11/2021

MAYBE THE WORD “COMMUNITY” IS MISLEADING?

Apparently the title BALLA COMMUNITY MARKET maybe causing some confusion, in particular with the Christmas Market.

The Resource Centre have in the past held a December market entitled BALLA CHRISTMAS MARKET and we understand the similarity is causing some confusion.

We would like to make it clear that the Christmas Market being held on the afternoon of SUNDAY 5 DECEMBER is sponsored by Irish Donkey Welfare Organisation and not Balla Resource Centre. All money raised that day will go into IDWO funds.

Apologies for any misunderstanding that may have been caused.

01/11/2021

WHAT A BRILLIANT DAY THAT WAS!

So all the hard work paid off! A total of 16 stall holders attended our very first market in Balla on Saturday offering a wide selection of very individual items for sale. We’d like to thank them and everyone else who helped make the market such a success plus of course the numerous visitors who came to browse.
As IDWO we were thrilled to have the chance to promote the lovely donkey population of Ireland and, through sales if mostly handcrafted items donated to us as well as donations and sponsorships, we were able to raise approximately €200. That may sound a small amount but it will allow us to purchase feed and pay for farrier work should it become necessary for any donkeys that come to our attention. Every little helps!
We’re taking a well earned rest for a week or two before getting ready for our next outing, CHRISTMAS MARKET - SUNDAY 5 DECEMBER 12 - 4. Watch this space in the coming weeks for more information.
Thank you again everyone!