This article is from page 25 of the 2009-04-21 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 25 JPG
WHEN Tulla woman Una Fitzger- ald and a group of supporters set out trestle tables and sold fruit and veg in the main street in Tulla three years ago, little did they know that they were paving the way for a de- velopment which could bring visitors from all over east Clare to shop in the village.
Una and her friends set up the stall for one day after she discovered that trading had to take place on at least one day before the ancient market charter for the town expired.
While the proposal to have a coun- try market in Tulla did not necessar- ily need a charter, if a meeting held
in the courthouse last night leads to the setting up of a market, having the charter means that the venture could eventually have an outdoor market going as well.
Local people interested in setting up a farmers market went along to the meeting last night to hear two representatives from Country Mar- kets Ltd outline what needs to be done.
It is hoped that the courthouse will be the venue for a new indoor market which will features stalls selling lo- cal produce and crafts.
Traditionally, local people would use the markets to sell produce such as eggs and vegetables, to bring in a bit of extra cash.
The people behind the new market idea say that there 1s again a big de- mand for the country market, both from shoppers who want to buy lo- cally-produced or organic foods and from people who are growing or pro- ducing foods and crafts.
“This is an idea I have had for a long time,” said Siobhan Mulcahy, who set up last night’s meeting.
“T talked to people about having a market and I got nothing but positive responses.
“There is such a great group of people here in Tulla – they have such energy and it is time to tap into that and get this going.”
One important aspect of the mar- ket would be a coffee shop, Siobhan
feels.
“The country market also has an important social function. While we have lovely restaurants, we don’t have anywhere in Tulla where people can just go to meet friends and have a cup of coffee, so this has an impor- tant social function.”
Already, producers of vegetables, plants, fresh eggs, baked goods, knitwear, artwork and woodcrafts have expressed an interest in taking part.
“And if the country market be- comes established, there’s every possibility in the future that an out- door farmers market might grow up around it so it’s brilliant that they kept the charter.”