The recent WUWM Retail Conference in Dublin was an eye-opener for those of us in attendance. We were somewhat surprised to note some of the issues that market traders face in Ireland at this time. Evidently, the public management of retail markets in the country is under much more stress to provide similar standards of market management expertise and professionalism as in other European countries.

The economic climate notwithstanding, market traders in Ireland appear to be struggling to receive the basic services expected for their not insubstantial operating fees. Dublin’s Moore Street Market is a classic example. A well-situated daily market with a long and vibrant history, one would expect to encounter traders that are happy to have a permanent business located there. Instead, we found the traders themselves cleaning the street around their pitches to better reflect their own professional hygiene standards. Sadly, the many businesses and shops in the street that have fallen along the wayside of local decision-making processes have only succeeded in further dampening the market’s value and traders are confronted with security issues that include the night-time vandalism of their stalls. In addition, the future development of the nearby wholesale market - source of most of the fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers traded on the retail market - remains on hold and depressingly uncertain.

None of these issues support a successful business environment, nor do they promote a general sense of wellbeing in the local community. Unfortunately, alongside the lack of professionalism in Irish local authority market management, it would seem that many of the reasons for the current situation stem from the ignorance of decision-makers to the great socio-economic value of markets to local business and communities.

Irish minister of environment, heritage and local government, John Gormley, opened the conference by informing of his commitment to strengthen and improve the position of Irish markets. This is much needed and very welcome political support for the sector. However, for effective change to take place in a timely way, the current situation also requires that greater support, professionalism and understanding be offered to markets and their traders by Irish local authorities.

For their own part, Irish market traders are yet to establish an independent national representative body to ensure a strong, effective collective voice exists in the country. We hope this WUWM conference has acted as a catalyst for the formation of such a body, and we look forward to a future when Ireland’s market managers will be able to participate with their European and international counterparts in further developing and professionalising the sector.

Topics