Thank you 2022

As 2022 comes to a close as quickly as it arrived we would like to thank everyone for their support this year and wish you all a Merry Christmas and Peaceful New Year.

This year we celebrated our 10 year anniversary, what a fantastic year it has been.

The market was started in Ballycastle back in 2012 by volunteers from the Ballycastle Chamber of Commerce and in 2015 developed into the social enterprise it is now - Naturally North Coast and Glens CIC.

In 2022 38 Markets were hosted in Ballycastle, Cushendall, Cushendun, Portstewart, Ballymoney, Limavady, Glenarm Castle, Carrickfergus, Broughshane, Benone, Bushmills and Castlerock.

We hosted markets at some fantastic events including: St Patricks Day at Broughshane, The Great Outdoors Event at Benone, The Ballymoney Spring Fair, The Glenarm Castle Tulip Festival and Camp Dal Fest, The Big Arts Weekend in Cushendun, The Rathlin Sound Maritime Festival, The Heart of the Glens Festival, The Old Lammas Fair, The Siege of Carrick, The Salmon & Whiskey Festival, The Flowerfield Twilight Market, The Ballymoney Lights Switch on, the Castlerock Christmas Market, along with a number of independent markets in Ballycastle, Ballymoney and The Roe Valley Speciality Market in Limavady.

This was made possible by our fantastic dedicated team of staff; Richard, Eoin, Pete, Linda, Jamie, Nigel, Gerard, Conor, Oisin and Conleth, our volunteers, members, our traders, everyone that visits or promotes the markets, everyone that provided behind the scenes support and advice, with a mention to the various departments and teams within Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council for their continued support, and those organisations that hosted a NNCG Market at their event or that we worked with throughout the year including Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Glenarm Castle, Mc Auley Multimedia, Heart of the Glens Festival Committee, Team at Castlerock Golf Club, FuseFM Ballymoney, Cushendun Building Preservation Trust, Bushmills Trust and Bushmills Traders Association, Taste Causeway, Ballycastle Chamber of Commerce, Ballycastle Community Development Group, and many others. Thanks also to the Rank Foundation and to Social Enterprise NI for their support.

Our Achievements in 2022 included:

Winner in the Social Enterprise NI awards, for the Best Consumer Facing Social Enterprise 2022.
We became the First JAM Card Friendly Market in NI, helping make markets inclusive for everyone.
Awarded the Real Deal Charter.
Rank Foundation Golden Award, in their 50 years of giving awards.
Devils Churn Caramel Sauce (Campfire Salted) won GOLD at the Blas na hEaireann Irish Food Awards
Helped bring Princess Taisie to Life with the new Ballycastle Mascot
We also launched our fresh new brand look!

We hosted 167 small businesses throughout the year in various venues and at various events, and accommodated 1300 trading pitches in total and supported 70 small businesses through the delivery of the Artisan Market Online and Seasons of the Glens Farm Shop.

Thanks to everyone that supported our markets and traders this year, small businesses need your support now more than ever.

Please continue to support small independent businesses and shop local where you can.

A Massive congratulations to our traders who won an award in our 2022 Awards! Best Presented Stall at the Ballymoney Spring Fair: Creative Crafting NI Best Presented Stall at the Rathlin Sound Maritime Festival: Louise Concannon Designs Best Presented Stall at the Old Lammas Fair: Taisie Turning Most Promising New Trader 2022: Gavin of the Little Popcorn Shop Spirit of Naturally North Coast & Glens: Linda of Linda's Original

And thanks to Richard of Rjp turning for the fantastic handcrafted trophies.

A little shout out to all of the makers, producers, farmers, growers, artists, designers and creatives from throughout NI that traded at our markets this year: