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                      St. Nathy’s Christmas Market was in full festive swing this week

The air was buzzing with excitement as the doors to St. Nathy’s Christmas market opened yesterday.  Transition Year (TY) and Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) Enterprise students put on a display fit for a King.  This year’s market featured an impressive array of handcrafted goods, festive treats, and Christmas cheer, all of which showed the creativity and teamwork of the young participants.

The school’s “Above Study Hall” was transformed into a winter wonderland, decked with twinkling lights and festive decorations. Rows of stalls stacked with products lovingly created by the vendors were lined up for the student shoppers.  Visitors were greeted with the enchanting aroma of scented candles, which came in various seasonal fragrances like cinnamon spice, vanilla, and pine. Besides these, a selection of luxurious hair oils in decorative bottles promised to be the  perfect stocking fillers.

Handmade resin jewellery holders sparkled under the soft glow of the fairy lights. Nearby, winter wonderland snow globes made from large, upside-down wine glasses captured scenes of miniature villages and snowy landscapes.  Virtual ‘Laplands in a jar!’ (Wine glass!)

The woodwork stalls were a particular highlight, featuring beautifully crafted wooden Christmas trees, candle holders, coasters, and even adorable wooden reindeer. These rustic pieces, made from sustainably sourced materials, (branches that had fallen during a recent storm) provided an absolute shopper’s delight. For those seeking functional gifts, there was a myriad of wooden coasters and wooden candle holders up for grabs.

Beaded bracelets very similar to Taylor Swift’s “Friendship bracelets” were available in a variety of designs. Silk cloth flowers and colorful jars of sweets brightened up the neighbouring tabletops. Posters featuring motivational quotes, quirky illustrations, and festive themes appealed to those looking for a thoughtful gift.

Among the most innovative creations were pictures made from stones with messages written above them like “Grá” and “Cairde”.  Pottery items added another layer of artistic craftsmanship, with hand-painted ornaments freshly out of the kiln.

There was an abundance of hot chocolate mixes packaged with marshmallows in delightful jars, making for perfect gifts. To ensure all students had a chance to participate, each class was assigned a scheduled time to visit the market with their teacher. Vendors were incredibly persuasive, leaving no stone unturned in convincing their classmates and teachers to buy their products, often poaching prospective customers from neighbouring stalls!

Products flew off the shelves (tables), and orders were taken for customised for out-of-stock items. The bustling stalls saw plenty of heightened negotiations, as students proudly pitched their creations and shoppers haggled. Let’s hope the busy elves from St. Nathy’s can fulfill all these orders and deliver them by Friday!

The Christmas Market was not just an opportunity for shoppers to find unique gifts but also a chance for them to gain valuable experience in running a business. As part of their TY and LCA Enterprise curricula, the students worked hard with their teachers to visualise, design, produce, and market their products. The entire process, from brainstorming ideas to calculating costs and setting prices, provided them with a real, hands-on approach to understanding entrepreneurship.

TY Coordinator Ms. Scally praised the students for their hard work and dedication as did the four diligent Enterprise teachers involved, Ms. Munnelly, Ms. Healy, Ms. Mee and Ms. Hughes. For the students, the event was a lesson in business, a boost to their confidence, and a cherished memory of their time in school.