Cork's English Market could be template to save rural towns

“Hollowed out” rural towns have been urged to rejuvenate themselves by reclaiming town centres for the artisan and agri food sector instead of letting them turn into “glorified car parks”.

Agriculture Minister Michael Creed said the “iconic” status of Cork’s English Market shows there is a substantial food and tourism economy which is waiting to be tapped into.

While Ireland’s economy is slowly recovering at a national level, Mr Creed said the reality is large parts of the country — including previously bustling provisional towns — are continuing to struggle with the dual jobs and emigration crises.