market trading rights. Act now!

Use it or Lose it” clause in Casual Trading Act comes into force at the end of April.

As Mayday looks like it will pass without a Reclaim The Streets, the story-writers and comenteers of Indymedia.ie are encouraging their readers to set out their stalls in the cities and towns of Ireland.

Under the terms of the Casual Trading Act, 1995, thousands of towns will lose their market trading rights. However, if a town holds a market before the end of this month, the right will be held onto for another 10 years. A list of towns with traditional market rights follows at the end of this article.

Comment from rtm! reclaim your markets!
They are the hub of your cities, thence will you build your cumanns, because you're passionate about politics and you won't be dying yet from the cholesterol yogurt mix thing, and will be ready for 2016. But long before that, we must fight a scourge and blight upon the yesterday's youth of prosperous crossroads and motel nights. & they're the ones who will forbid you selling strawberries.
They will nullify your assets in bric-a-brac. They will confiscate your copies of CDs, DVDs, and assorted frangrances. & they have a name. They have letters and slogans. They have accents. They have red blotchy noses. They begin with F.
& they end with F.

Section of comment from Terry
I recall back in the early 90s that there was a huge increase in the number of home-made produce being sold throughout the country. Apparently it was so successful that the big food companies got worried since it was eating into their market share, so apparently they got their lobbyists in Brussels working hard and that's why a lot of EU legalisation surrounding food and hygene was brought in.
Its sole purpose was to destroy this threat and this current bill to ban markets is designed to permanently kill off any potential threat for alternative ways of getting/buying our food other than through the big supermarkets.

Cork Based IrelandMarkets.com |Irish Farmers Markets | European Directive Against Vitamins & Minerals | Slow Food Ireland | Planned Market Rights website - check back soon

All this involves is, as a minimum, one table with stuff for sale on it, on the correct day. That's it! (See main article for more details on where, how etc.) This is a practical way to maintain whatever power local people have in the face of multiple retailers and the cloning of UK highstreets we've seen here over the past 10 years.

It maintains the future possibility of a farmers' market in a town, or any other type of market for that matter! For a list of the towns and the days, see at the end of this article. (B.t.w. sorry the list is so long, but it is a public service to list them, and its length is proof of the fact that there are alternatives to the multiples taking over and sometimes then abandoning town centres!)

There is a campaign built around this issue. The following comes from Caroline Robinson, chair of the IFMTA (Irish Food Market Traders Association):

Caroline: At present, there are market rights in thousands of towns and villages throughout Ireland, and a number of court cases taken against market traders have confirmed that these rights are valid (see background below.) However, under the 1995 Casual Trading Act, these market rights will be automatically extinguished unless they are exercised before the end of April.

If farmers or growers want to maintain the option of holding a market at any time in the future, they must act now. All that is required is that they set up a market stall on the relevant market day in their town. It appears from that Act that once the market rights are exercised, they remain in existence for a further 10 years.

Quentin Gargan and Madeline McKeever, were arrested and prosecuted while selling home produce in Skibbereen in August 2003. The District Court dismissed the charges, largely because this clause in the Casual Trading Act effectively confirmed these market rights. Gargan and McKeever are urging farmers and growers to look at the list of market rights in their area, and set up a temporary stall in that town on the relevant day, and maintain the right to hold a market there. Its no big deal - a table with a basket of turnips and carrots will do.

People interested in setting up a market can check the location and day of the week when local market rights exist at http://www.ardnashee.com. There is a list of currently operating markets at http://www.irelandmarkets.com , though this list includes privately operated markets as well as those held under traditional market rights.

Courtesy of Caroline Robinson,
Chairperson of the Irish Farmers Market Traders Association
Info on town market days:
Please check if your local town has Market Rights and if so hold a small, short market there to keep the Rights alive for another 10 years. Get your market recorded by the Gardai, photos, newspaper, etc. Also send an e-mail confirming it to me or quentingargan@eircom.net
More Instructions below! Good luck! C.

List of towns with Market Rights:
COUNTY AND TOWN MARKET RIGHT DAY OTHER MARKET RIGHT
Carlow Bagnelstown
Carlow Carlow Monday
Carlow Hacketstown Wednesday
Carlow Tullow Saturday Thursday
Cavan Arva Friday
Cavan Ballinagh
Cavan Ballyconnell Friday
Cavan Ballyheelan
Cavan Ballyjamesduff Wednesday Tuesday
Cavan Bailieborough Monday and Thursday
Cavan Belturbert Thursday
Cavan Cavan Tuesday
Cavan Cootehill Friday
Cavan Killeshandra Monday Wednesday
Cavan Kinaleck Monday
Cavan Kingscourt Tuesday
Cavan Mullagh Tuesday Friday
Cavan Virginia Thursday

Clare Ballyvaughan 6 Market Days
Clare Carrigaholt
Clare Corrofin
Clare Ennis Tuesday 5 Market Days
Clare Ennistimon Saturday
Clare Killaloe
Clare Kilrush Tuesday Monday To Saturday
Clare Kilkee
Clare Kilfenora Thursday
Clare Milltown Malbay Thursday
Clare Tulla

Cork Bandon Saturday(South) Monday(coolefadda)
Cork Bantry
Cork Cork
Cork Cloyne
Cork Charleville Wednesday
Cork Clonakilty Friday Wednesday
Cork Dunmanway Tuesday Saturday
Cork Doneraile Thursday
Cork Fermoy Saturday Friday
Cork Kinsale Wednesday and Satu
Cork Kanturk Saturday 6 Markets
Cork Macroom Wednesday and Satu
Cork Millstreet Friday
Cork Middleton Saturday
Cork Mallow Friday Tuesday
Cork Mitchelstown Thursday
Cork Rosscarberry Wednesday Saturday
Cork Cobh Wed and Sat
Cork Skibbereen Wednesday Saturday
Cork Youghall Wednesday and Satu
Donegal Ardara Tuesday
Donegal Ballybofey Saturday
Donegal Buncrana Friday
Donegal Ballyshannon Tuesday
Donegal Carndonagh Monday
Donegal Churchill First Thursday
Donegal Donegal Thursday One Market
Donegal Letterkenny Friday
Donegal Raphoe Saturday
Donegal Rameltown Tuesday
Dublin Balbriggan Saturday
Galway Athenry
Galway Ballinasloe Wednesday
Galway Ballymoe Saturday
Galway Creggs Saturday
Galway Clifden Saturday
Galway Dunmore Monday
Galway Eyrecourt Saturday Wednesday
Galway Galway Saturday Wednesday
Galway Gort Thursday
Galway Roundstone Wednesday
Galway Headford
Galway Kinvarra Saturday Wednesday
Galway Loughrea
Galway Miltown
Galway Monivea Saturday
Galway MountBellewBridge Wednesday
Galway Oughterard
Galway Portummna Tuesday Saturday
Galway Tuam Thursday
Galway Woodford Wednesday and Sat
Kerry Ballylongford daily market
Kerry Cahiciveen
Kerry Dingle Saturday
Kerry Kenmare six markets Tuesday and Saturday
Kerry Killarney Saturday
Kerry Killorglin Thursday
Kerry Listowel Saturday Wednesday
Kerry Milltown Wednesday Saturday
Kerry Tarbert
Kerry Tralee Saturday Tuesday
Kildare Athy Tuesday
Kildare Ballymore-Eustace Thursday
Kildare Kilcock Any Day Wednesday
Kildare Kilcullen Tuesday Saturday
Kildare Kildare Saturday Thursday
Kildare Monastereven Saturday
Kildare Naas Monday Saturday
Kildare Rathangan Monday
Kilkenny Callan Tues And Sat
Kilkenny Castlecomer Tuesday
Kilkenny Graig
Kilkenny Kilkenny Wed And Sat Tuesday
Leitrim Ballinamore
Leitrim Carrick on Shannon
Leitrim Drumkeerin Wednesday
Leitrim Drumshambo Friday
Leitrim Feenagh
Leitrim Jamestown Saturday Wednesday
Leitrim Kiltyclogher
Leitrim Manorhamilton Thursday
Leitrim Mohill Thursday
Leitrim Newtowmgore Saturday
Limerick Askeaton Wed and Sat
Limerick Ballingarry Tuesday Wednesday
Limerick Bruff Wednesday
Limerick Croom Monday and Thursday
Limerick Glin
Limerick Kilfinane Monday
Limerick Limerick All Days
Limerick Newcastle Saturday Tues and Thurs
Limerick Rathkeale Thurs Mon,Tue,Wed,Fri,Sat
Longford BallyMahon Thursday
Longford Drumlish Thursday
Longford Edgeworthstown Wednesday
Longford Longford Thursday Wed and Sat
Lonford Granard Monday
Louth Ardee Any Day
Louth Carlingford Thursday Saturday
Louth Dundalk Monday
Mayo Ballaghdereen
Mayo Ballyhaunis Saturday
Mayo Ballinrobe Thursday Monday
Mayo Ballina
Mayo Ballycastle
Mayo Balla Wednesday
Mayo Ballindine Saturday
Mayo Castlebar
Mayo Claremorris
Mayo Crossmolina Thursday
Mayo Cong Tuesday
May Foxford Thursday
Mayo Hollymount Wed and Sat
Mayo Killala Wednesday Saturday
Mayo Kiltemanagh
Mayo Kilkelly
Mayo Louisburgh
Mayo Bellaghy Friday
Mayo Newportpratt
Mayo Shrule Wed and Sat
Mayo Swinford
Mayo Westport Daily Market
Meath Athboy Tuesday
Meath Drogheda
Meath Kells Saturday
Meath Navan Any Day
Meath Oldcastle Monday
Meath Trim Any Day
Monaghan Castleblaney
Monaghan Clones
Monaghan Carrickmacross
Monaghan BallyBay Saturday
Monaghan Monaghan Monday
Monaghan Rockcorry
Monaghan Newbliss Saturday
Offaly Bannagher Monday Thursday
Offaly Clara Wednesday
Offaly Cloghan Wednesday
Offaly Edenderry Saturday Wednesday
Offaly Ferbane
Offaly Frankford Saturday
Offaly Birr Thursday Saturday
Offaly Philipstown
Offaly Tullamore Tuesday
Laois Abbeyleix Thursday
Laois Ballinakill Saturday
Laois Ballickmoyler Saturday
Laois Durrow
Laois Portlaoise Thursday
Laois Mountmellick Saturday
Laois Mountrath Wed and Sat
Laois Portarlington Wednesday
Laois Stradbally Any Day Tues and Sat
Roscommon Ballyfarnon
Roscommon Boyle Thursday
Roscommon Ballinlough Saturday Thursday
Roscommon Castlerea Saturday Wednesday
Roscommon Elphin Monday
Roscommon Frenchpark
Roscommon Keadue Wednesday
Roscommon Roscommon
Roscommon Rusky
Roscommon Strokestown
Sligo Aclare Saturday
Sligo Bellaghy Wednesday
Sligo Ballymoate Monday
Sligo Easkey Wednesday
Sligo Sligo Tues and Sat
Sligo Tubbercurry Monday
Tipperary Borrisoleigh Wednesday
Tipperary Borrisokane Monday Saturday
Tipperary Cloghjordan
Tipperary Kilcommon
Tipperary Nenagh
Tipperary Newport Friday
Tipperary Roscrea Thursday
TipperaryTemplemore Wed and Sat
Tipperary Thurles Tues and Sat
Tipperary Cashel Wed and Sat
Tipperary Cappawhite Wednesday
Tipperary Cahir Thursday
Tipperary Carrick on Suir
Tipperary Clonmel Tues and Sat Lawful Manor of Clonmel
Tipperary Clogheen Any Days
Tipperary Mullinahone Thursday
Tipperary Tipperary
Waterford Bonmahon
Waterford Dungarvan Wednesday Wed and Sat
Waterford Lismore Saturday Thursday
Waterford Portlaw
Waterford Tallow Thurs and Sat
Waterford Waterford Wed and Sat
Westmeath Ballincarrig Monday
Westmeath Castletowndelvin Saturday
Westmeath Clonmellon Saturday
Westmeath Castlepollard Wednesday
Westmeath Collinstown Saturday
Westmeath Finea Tuesday
Westmeath Kilbeggan Saturday
Westmeath Killucan Wed and Sat
Westmeath Moate Thursday
Westmeath Mullingar Thursday
Wexford Bridgetown
Wexford Conrosss
Wexford Enniscorthy Thursday
Wexford Gorey
Wexford New Ross Wed and Sat
Wexford Newtownbarry Saturday
Wexford Taghmon
Wexford Wexford Wed and Sat two markets dates not given
Wicklow Arklow
Wicklow Bray Friday
Wicklow Baltinglass Sat,Thurs Fri,Tues
Wicklow Blessington Thursday
Wicklow Carnew Thursday any day
Wicklow Donard Saturday
Wicklow Dunlavin Wednesday Friday and Saturday
Wicklow Avoca
Wicklow Rathdrum Thursday
Wicklow Tinahely
Wicklow Wicklow