Festive Market Lights Up MSU
On November 24th, 2025, the Students’ Union hosted a series of market stalls alongside its annual switching on of the Christmas lights. The event effectively commences the festive season on campus, which comes to an unofficial conclusion with ‘Maynooth Christmas’ on December 15th, 2025. Below is a round-up of the day’s events.
Market stalls set up shop in the courtyard at 12 pm, closing six hours later. At approximately 4:45 pm, MSU President Charli Middleton gave a brief speech concerning the end of the first semester, as has been customary at the switching on of the lights. Although there were some difficulties livestreaming and posting the speech to Instagram (@maynooth_su) for those not present, Middleton emphasised that “community is the heart” of the MSU’s activity. Reflecting the reminiscence of the festive period, Middleton described community as something that allows us to “celebrate our wins with the people around us,” and equally helps us through hard times.
The Christmas lights–wrapped around the tree in the courtyard–were switched on by the end of the hour. Some students expressed disappointment, as these were the only lights turned on at the event. However, similar complaints did not extend to the mulled wine that was served throughout the day–nor to the lively market.
Present at the market was Schneider Gwei, of the Dún Laoghaire-based SheNice Crochet, who students may recall from the MSU’s Black History Month crochet workshop. On sale at her stall was a colourful array of crocheted gingham and chequered bucket hats. In conversation with Silver Hand Journal, Gwei praised the event as “the best market I’ve been to so far” this festive season.
Similarly, Drogheda-based designer Moreneki Ajayi of ThisCreativeFashion spoke positively about the event and its atmosphere, describing it as “overwhelming” in a good way. Like Gwei, Ajayi has previously worked with MSU, appearing at two of their events this calendar year. Her stall featured a vibrant range of accessories inspired by indigenous African fashion. Among them were scrunchies, sleep masks, tote bags, coin purses and scarves–some of which could also be found in specially-made festive gift packages.
Earlier in the day saw a stall from Inga’s Bakery Palace, serving a selection of festive cupcakes, chocolate biscuit cakes and other suitably Christmassy desserts. The Orient Restaurant, deeply familiar to any students who’ve eaten on Main Street, were also present selling imported snacks from their Mini! Asia Market.
The MSU additionally had two parallel stalls at the foyer doors. The first was a “re-gift” stall redistributing second-hand goods, with the second selling ribbons of solidarity to raise awareness of good causes. Both stalls raised money for the MSU’s charity partner of the year, Islamic Relief Ireland.
