As SOLAS comes to the end of its first full calendar year in business it is a good chance to look at the milestones, it has have achieved in 2022.
2022 in Review
Monthly Craft Markets: Since these were launched in February of this year the markets have been sell out events which have attracted huge crowds.
February saw a significant upgrading of the Car Park while March saw a 10-Day St Patrick’s day Festival @ SOLAS with the arrival of ‘Spin City’.
This truly wonderful event was so successful, we have plans to make it an annual event in the years to come.
Car Boot Sales proved hugely popular with 50 exhibitors – it drew a crow of over 2,000 people to SOLAS.
Clothes Swap has been run on 2 occasions and proved a huge hit each time with almost 1,000 items of clothing being dropped over for each event.
The Book swap corner is a permanent and free facility in the Food Court and indoor café has proven a huge hit with children and adults alike.
The retractable roof on the Food Courtyard was only completed in February 2022 and is truly the architectural gem at the heart of SOLAS – take a bow Johnny Bracken and his team of skilled fabricators
The Cosy Café, with a capacity of just over 50, has proven to be a huge boost to SOLAS by offering a 7 days a week ideal spot to meet up for coffee, sandwich or a treat.
March also saw Caoilfhionn Byrne join the team. In her 7 months at SOLAS, Caoi transformed the food menu, the tableware, the décor and helped to design out the Cosy Café.
Most importantly Caoi convinced ‘Blow-in / now a local’ chef Allan Hendry to join our team.
June saw the launch of the SOLAS food and gift shop while July saw the visit of the French Embassy to SOLAS for the French festival celebrations and the unveiling of the 440 sqm mural with that all important 3m high French speaking Blue-White-&-Red Rooster.
September saw the launch of ‘SOLAS Education for second level schools’ which lists a total of 12 courses for schools to attend with a focus on ‘Food, The Environment and Business’ see https://ecogardenshop.ie/education/
October saw the Camera crews arrive as RTE TV came down to shoot ‘Budget 2023’ from the farmers’ market in SOLAS
October also saw the launch of the ‘Moo-Cow’ milk and glass bottle dispensing machines inside the farmers Market.
Halloween – saw a haunted House, stocks for the family photo and 300 strong pumpkin patch and sold-out Pumpkin carving events.
November saw more TV coverage as the SOLAS food court featured in RTE’s ‘What Planet are you on?’ – as it was a case for ‘Love at first sight’ when the programme producers called into SOLAS for a coffee and saw it as an ideal backdrop for an environmental TV show.
November also saw SOLAS win the ‘Start Up/Emerging New Business of the Year Award’ at the Laois chamber of Commerce awards 2022.
Santa arrived in town complete with a grotto, woodland walk and ‘Alpha the Alpaca’ with his sidekick ‘Sean the Sheep’. A total of 1,300 children got to meet Santa and his elves over the festive period.
December also saw the completion of the ‘Seomra’ events room which being rent for use for yoga, dance classes, training events and meetings.
David Maher co-owner of SOLAS explains: “I am exhausted just listing all the new features, events and improvements we have made this year.
“The constant sense of excitement and progress is central to the ethos of SOLAS, we never stop striving to be better.
“We believe so passionately about what we are doing here. Sure, it a business and it comes down to money, but we believe SOLAS has the potential to transform the economic and cultural landscape in Portarlington and Midlands in general.”
Plans for 2023
Markets are taking a break for a few weeks but will return with a double Farmers and Craft Market on Valentines weekend which falls on the 11 & 12 February 2023.
We hope to make SOLAS Education into the ‘Go to Destination’ for secondary school trips across the region, as SOLAS seeks to inform and inspire a new generation of budding environmentalists and entrepreneurs
March will see the return of 10 Day St Patrick Days carnival to SOLAS.
Plans are in train to bring a major TV event to SOLAS. More on this later ….
Many of the popular events from 2022 will be back including:
- Clothes swap – with a special focus on teenagers
- Car Boot Sale
- Bric-a-Brac
- Lego Exhibition in late 2023
- Larger and Greener Christmas Events in 2023
SOLAS – Shop
This week we are offering 20% off our Handmade skincare and home fragrance range by The Handmade Soap Company.
All their products are made using certified natural ingredients and the finest botanical essential oils with their unique trademark fragrances.
SOLAS Weather
The weather forecast for Christmas week is to be relatively warm and dry. Conditions on Monday will be ideal for the annual Clonaslee St Stephen’s Day Walk. See details on https://www.facebook.com/ClonasleeStStephensDayWalk/
HAPPY CHRISTMAS
Finally, the Management and staff at SOLAS would like to thank their loyal customers for their support in 2022 and we look forward to seeing you in 2023.
SEE ALSO – Over the pub – PJ Kavanagh on what it’s like living in the centre of a busy town with a young family
