Tourism key to future of iconic market, says lord mayor

Tourists must be accepted as a part of the future of Cork’s iconic English Market, which celebrated its 230th birthday yesterday.

The call came from Lord Mayor Cllr Mick Finn, well-known market traders, and market management amid concerns from some stall holders that Ireland’s oldest working food market is in danger of “suffocating” from rising tourist numbers.

Orla Lannin, The English Market, Lord Mayor Cllr Mick Finn, fishmonger Pat O'Connell and John Boyling, Chairperson, Trader's Association, cutting the birthday cake today. Pic: Larry Cummins.

High-profile visits from the British royal family and Apple boss Tim Cook in recent years, and on the back of its starring role in the hit TV sitcom The Young Offenders, sees up to three coach loads of tourists passing through daily, many just taking photographs.

The Irish Examiner has also learned that a fishmonger and a butcher, who were distracted by separate flash photography incidents involving tourists last year, required hospital treatment for cuts.

As Mr Finn led celebrations to mark yesterday’s milestone, he paid tribute to the generations of traders who have made the market what it is today. He said tourism is very much part of its future.

“A good job has been done in recent months and years to try and manage the duality of purpose of the market as a major tourist destination but most importantly, a working market,” he said.

“It is a working market and people’s livelihoods depend on it. But if we want to bring tourists here, we have to look after them.

"That can be managed. But it needs to be on the agenda all the time.”

Traders pictured at the English Market's 230th birthday celebrations. Pic: Cathal Noonan

John Boyling, chairman of the traders’ committee, said tourism provides an opportunity for market traders and for the city in general.

“People are entitled to their opinion on tourism here but tourism is a part of life in many cities and as well as being an attraction for our customers, the market is equally an attraction for tourists,” he said.

Market manager Orla Lannin said while measures introduced last year, requiring tour groups to register and capping their numbers to eight or nine, have eased congestion in the market, improvements can always be made and will be considered.

To pay homage to the heritage and history within the market aisles, management commissioned tribute banners, which are now hanging from the ceiling, featuring photographs of traders past and present.

Tourists ‘suffocating’ English market

The English Market in Cork has become a victim of its own success.

That’s the view of some traders who are concerned that Ireland’s oldest working food market, which yesterday celebrated its 230th birthday, is in danger of “suffocating” from rising tourist numbers.

Since it hosted high-profile visits by the British royal family, notably Queen Elizabeth II in 2011 and Prince Charles and his wife Camilla earlier this year, and given its starring role in the hit TV comedy series, The Young

Offenders, up to three coach loads of tourists pass through daily.

Butcher Michael Bresnan, whose family connections to the market date back to the 1890s, said the market is suffering

from the rise in tourist numbers.

“Sometimes the numbers of tourists coming in are overwhelming, they come in waves and clog the place taking photographs,” he said.