Dear Mr Deasy,
I am surprised and disappointed that I have not had the courtesy of a reply to my email to you reproduced below.
However I am hopeful that you are nevertheless treating the matter with urgency and that you do not wish to preside over the closure of the Market by inaction..
I was told by the stallholders last Wednesday that their weekly losses are such that they are not likely to be able keep going for more than a few weeks without the clear prospect of an early move back to the Short Quay. I trust that you will be in touch with them before next Wednesday’s market to resolve any issues that you may have and give a firm early date for the move back.
Yours sincerely,
Cameron Ryle
_____________________________________________
From: Cameron Ryle [mailto:candiryle@gmail.com]
Sent: 18 July 2011 12:16
To: 'denis.deasy@corkcoco.ie'
Cc: Kevin Murphy (Kevin Murphy); Alan Coleman (Alan Coleman); Alan Clayton (Alan Clayton)
Subject: Kinsale Farmers Market
Denis Deasy
Kinsale Town Manager
Dear Mr Deasy
I am writing about the future of the Weekly food market in Kinsale known as the Farmers Market.
I am a Development Consultant based near Kinsale for 30 years and involved in helping small and medium sized businesses and in incoming tourism. I have no connection with the market or any of its stall holders other than as a customer.
It was started by Miles Cattell in 2005 and operated from Short Quay every Tuesday except in January. It soon established itself as one of the leading Markets in the county . At its peak there were about 35 stallholders and a waiting list of stallholders in certain categories. It was highlighted in national and international media as an example of a successful market which fitted well with Kinsale’s image as a progressive food orientated tourist destination.
What could possibly go wrong?
In 2008 the organiser was informed by council officials that due to Health and Safety factors the Market could no longer operate in Short Quay.
The Market moved to a site at St Multose car park in spite of misgivings by the stall holders and others as to its suitability. It was no surprise that trade dropped substantially due to its inappropriate location. Eventually it closed and a handful of stall holders moved to a private site adjoining Cronin’s shop and next the Tourist Office as a temporary measure while hoping to move back into the Short Quay. As trade at this site is so poor it is unlikely to survive beyond August.
There seems to be little impetus by the Council to save the market by getting it back to the Short Quay. The Health and Safety issue appears to be a red herring as the council is quite prepared to rightly allow the Kinsale Arts Festival to use the Short Quay for music and dancing.
The advantages to Kinsale of having a successful weekly market are well known and undisputed and a summary of them is in included in the attached appendix.
There is considerable local support for the market at Short Quay as evidenced by the number of emails sent to local councillors when the move was first announced (about 200 emails per councillor) and the petition of several hundred organised by Myles Cattell.
As Kinsale Manager I am sure you would like to see an enterprise of such value to Kinsale get back on track and be associated with success rather than contribute to failure.
Could you give it priority to have what outstanding issues there may be resolved and set an early firm date for the return to the Short Quay.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
CAMERON RYLE
