MAYOR WELCOMES CLON MARKET EXPANSION

Photo caption: The Mayor of Clonakilty, Cllr. Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin visited the Clonakilty Friday Market last Friday to acknowledge the new Licencing arrangement put in place by the Town Council, which sees a limited number of places made available to Market Traders in the public Kent St. Car Park, which adjoins the O' Donovan's Hotel car park from where most of the traders operate. With the market expanding in recent times, there was not enough space for all traders, and the council came up with this solution. A number of the traders applied for and received the new licences and are now trading legally each Friday in the Kent St. Car Park. (Photo: Christian Haubold)

MAYOR WELCOMES CLON MARKET EXPANSION

Clonakilty Town Mayor, Cllr. Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin, paid an official visit to the Clonakilty Food and Craft Market last Friday where he joined with the traders to welcome a new licencing arrangement initiated by the Town Council. The new licence facilitates a limited number of traders to trade in the Kent St. Car Park. 

The market, which operates on Fridays, is a popular attraction for locals and tourists alike since it was set up almost four years ago.

While there was some controversy at times when it set up initially, it has operated mainly from the private Car Park of O' Donovan's Hotel over the last three years very well.

The Mayor stated:

"The Friday Market in Clonakilty is a great asset to the town centre, and very popular all year round. I am proud to have supported it in the council since it's inception, as have most other councillors over the years.

It's popularity amongst producers has seen it expand to the point whereby it can no longer be contained within the private area of O' Donovan's Hotel Car Park each Friday.

Back in the Spring, the Council, which has always worked to facilitate and encourage the market, drew up a Licence whereby a limited number of Market Traders could legally set up in a designated section of the Kent St. Car Park, which adjoins the hotel car park. It was a natural extension to the market which sees most of the Market Traders operating from the (private) hotel car park.

I'm sure I speak for most people in Clonakilty, as well as visitors to our town, when I welcome this positive development as a great step forward. 

I want to pay tribute to the Town Clerk, Mr. Justin England, Town Manager Ms. Mary Ryan and others who worked hard to draw up the licence, and who have always done their best to facilitate and encourage the Clonakilty Friday Market".

CRÍOCH