Shaku Maku Yard Christmas Market

The festive season is around the corner, so there are plenty of Christmas themed events and activities popping up around Dublin. Shaku Maku Yard is a cosmopolitan bar on the trendy stretch of Rathmines Road. It is in the back of Shaku Maku, a restaurant  that specialises in mouth watering Middle Eastern soul food. The cosy little bar will be hosting a weekly Christmas market that will feature flea market stalls, music, delectable food, and, of course, some good vibes.

Reo, the organiser of the event, set out to create a Christmas market with a twist. While it has some seasonally appropriate items, it’s also a space for artists and craftspeople to showcase and sell their work.

I went over to the Shaku Maku Yard to check out the vibe and to speak to some of the vendors about the wares that they had on offer. The market offers an eclectic mix of products that would be great presents to get friends or family.

The Market is open every Sunday from 12pm to 6pm till the 22nd of December.

Bearz: Semi-Figurative Art Pieces

One of the first characters I met in Shaku Yard’s Christmas market was Bearz, a heavily tattooed but jovial gent with some truly eye-catching art pieces on offer. While his pieces are not traditionally Christmas themed, they are aesthetically pleasing and thought provoking, making them an ideal gift for a loved one that is more creatively inclined.

I asked him about his art, he responded, saying “My art explores my own mind, and challenges that I would have met in my own life. It helps me explain things that I can’t really put into words.”

When asked about his artistic style, he categorised it as ‘semi-figurative’. His art features images that are distorted and dream-like, yet vibrant and aesthetic. If you want to get in touch with him and inquire about his pieces, check out Bearz’s Instagram account.

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Ghalia: Moving Poetry and Handcrafted Jewellery

I met Ghalia Malki, a Saudi Arabian multimedia artist and poet, who set up shop in Shaku Yard. Her stall featured some stylish handcrafted earrings to bedazzle your earlobes and accessorise your outfit. The main attraction is her poetry book, Yearning Souls, which was made in collaboration with another poet, Samantha Reetsang.

The poetry featured in the book deals with many personal experiences along with universal themes, like letting go of one’s ego and growing as a person. When asked about any overarching themes in the book, Ghalia characterised the content as “universal lessons kind of poetry”. The moving poems and writings are accompanied by striking visuals that Ghalia photographed and designed.

Yearning Souls will officially launch at an event scheduled for 26 November at O’Regan’s, in Dublin 2.  The Yearning Souls book launch will feature talks by the authors themselves and live performances by the DJs,The Juice and Chazzanazz.

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By Grace Jewellery and Candles

Next I met Anyuris Suarez and her adorable daughter, Victoria, at the stand By Grace Jewellery and Candles. While Anyuris’s enterprise is usually run online, from its dedicated Instagram account, Shaku Yard’s Christmas market gives her the opportunity to have a physical location to showcase her products.

Originally from Venezuela, Anyuris came to live and work in Ireland 11 years ago. She was quite honest about her life in Ireland, saying that there were challenging times while being away from family, but she added how being creative was a saving grace for her.

She adds, “I think that my creativity has improved my resilience. I love to create things with my hands. I poured myself into making things like cold process soap, candles, and jewellery.”

Her products include modern stainless steel and gold plated jewellery and handmade natural soy wax scented candles that contain essential oils, which smell absolutely heavenly.

If you can’t find a gap in your schedule to visit her stall in Shaku Yard’s Christmas market, you can visit her Instagram, By Grace Jewellery and Candles, to get some of her divine smelling candles or eye-catching jewellery.

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Some Other Attractions

If the cold and gloomy weather is getting to you, you may want to stop off at Shaku Yard to grab a nice warm glass of mulled wine to warm the body and uplift your spirits.

If you are feeling peckish, Shaku Maku’s menu features some delectable Middle Eastern bites, like Hummus Belahmeh, a almond infused hummus dish that is topped with some succulent lamb. Their Baba Ghanoush is a Grilled aubergine puree dish that is mixed with tahini, yoghurt, olive oil and fresh pomegranate seeds.

To boost the ambience of the spot, they’ll be playing some swinging tunes to help you get into the festive spirit. If you’ve got an hour or two on any upcoming Sundays, head on over to Shaku Maku and help support some of these artists and craftsmen by buying some of their wares.

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