THE MARKETS

This is taken from a report wrtitten in the Irish Times of 7th December 1892, teling us about the Dublin Markets:

The old Markets were dirty and not healthy. Rubbish was thrown in the streets and needed to be removed by the Corporation. The Corporation needed to employ two extra men and an extra horse for the markets area. The new Markets were built between Arran Street and Fishers Lane. There was a new road built in place of Fishers Lane and Mary's Lane was widened. The Markets were designed by the city Engineer, Mr.Spencer,and were built by Thomas connolly and his son of Dominick Street. Connolly was paid £19,000 to build the Markets. The Markets were built with six Entrances. They are divided into ten compartments, five for fruits, and five for fish. Now the fish is sold in a separate building. They are built with roads through them for carts. They are connected to the city sewers and supplied with plenty of water for cleaning etc. There were Refreshments Rooms built too. Rent started at £20 a year. The Lord Mayor, Mr. M. Meade opened the Markets on December 6th 1892. He was given a Gold Key, symbolising that the Markets belong to the People of Dublin. After this official opening, 200 people went to the Rotunda for refreshments.

Before the Markets were built the people had stalls in their back gardens. This was dangerous because rats and mice were eating the vegetables, flowers, fruit and fish. The Corporation bought two acres of land, costing £10,000 and opened up the Markets area on it. People buy and sell here and trucks come and bring fruit and vegetables from abroad so that the Dublin Markets are well known overseas. The fruit, vegetables, and fish are so fresh and scrumptious that you would be tempted to eat them. The Markets are decorated with appealing stonecarvings of all the fish, fruit and vegetables that are on sale there.

BUSINESS IN THE DUBLIN MARKETS

Here in George's Hill we are so lucky! Flowers, fruit and vegetables come from all over the world. This helps us in knowing where several countries are, when we are learning our Geography.

For instance:

We import lots of exotic flowers from Holland, and we can see the big trucks every day outside the Markets.

We import lots of exotic fruit from the Mediterranean Countries.

We import lots of exotic vegetables from all over Europe.

We often walk through these Markets and see all these beautiful things. Supermarkets, Shopkeepers, come from all over Ireland to purchase these products for their displays and sales. We also have lots of fresh fish caught in the Irish Sea.

On top of the Markets Entrance there are two statues. One stands for Justice and the other stands for Peace. There is a Weighing Scales between the two statues.