COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

MOTION NO.6

MOTION: Councillor B. Bonner

"This committee requests that the Chief Executive would examine the possibility of establishing a weekly farmers market in Corkagh Park."

REPORT:

Farmers Markets have been tried at several locations in South Dublin County in recent years including Tallaght Village, outside County Hall and Corkagh Park, regrettably without long term success. A farmers market was established in 2010 in Corkagh Park following detailed discussions and planning in 2009 with Irish Farmers Markets. The market ran for a short period during the summer months but ultimately proved to be unsustainable.

There are a number of criteria which are used to determine the suitability of a site including site location, road frontage, footfall, composition and diversity of the market, demand for and pricing of produce and the interaction with surrounding businesses. In addition, farmers markets are very vulnerable to weather conditions, in particular, wet and windy weather.

As a result of the experience in 2010 it quickly became clear that Corkagh Park was unable to sustain a viable farmers market, despite a number of interventions by both the Council and the Operator.

As there has been no significant change in the fundamentals, there is little prospect of success for a new market. Accordingly, it is not proposed to establish another farmers market in Corkagh Park at this time.