GALWAY:THE CHRISTMAS "footfall" was late but "firm" for Galway traders this week, according to business interests in the city.
Fears that the recession would have a very adverse effect on the retail trade appeared to be unfounded, when the familiar Christmas traffic gridlock returned on ring roads early this week.
However, a number of shops had already opted to bring forward their sales, normally held from the last week of the year into early January.
Galway Chamber of Commerce chief executive Michael Coyle said that he had spoken to several prominent retail businesses this week and all had given positive reports.
The Galway market at St Nicholas's Collegiate church has also been "brisk", according to regular licensed traders.
Most businesses confirmed a "late surge" and several said that they believed people were aiming for Irish goods and were shopping locally.
A dedicated "Spend Christmas in Galway" initiated by the chamber may have contributed to this, Mr Coyle said.
The chamber campaign involved a website, carrying a shop, restaurant and hotel directory, and giving real-time information on special offers avaiable in the city.
It was based on the premise that the odds of going into a shop for a loaf of bread and emerging with only that were "three billion to one".
Mr Coyle said that adverse weather had deterred shoppers in early December.
"And more appalling weather last weekend didn't help. Some shops did say then that they could have been busier."
"But the tills were definitely ringing, and there is value to be had. It is just not going to be a bumper year, and people were already aware of that."