The live turkeys and hens, donkeys and carts may have gone to that great bazaar in the sky, but their spirit lives on in and around Galway’s St Nicholass Collegiate Church.
The weekend market has long been an institution, one that owes its roots to county growers selling produce in the city. The “king”, Michael Staunton, travelled north from Co Clare to sell his market gardening there for “50 years and a bit”, while Cogan’s fruit and vegetable stand always seems to have the most expansive pitch.
Watch out for Cait Curran’s organic veg, along with Tony Burke and Mary Gibsey’s flowers. You can fill larders here with olives, hummus, Madras curry, cheese from Breckish Dairies and Sheridan’s, along with Kappa-ya sushi and Stefan’s Gannet Fish. Stefan knows his catch, visits Rossaveal fishery harbour himself, and marks the prices and sources of fish on his stand – which can be a bit of a shortcoming on some other stalls.
As you work up an appetite, try one of Flo’s falafels from the Gourmet Offensive and finish up with a Yummy Crepe. Unfortunately, Mia’s Muffins, with the finest plum crumble slices, has taken a break for a year.
The Galway market can turn a shopping expedition into a social occasion, and the more determined shoppers are in from dawn. The food, vegetable and flower stalls tend to be open on Saturdays only, from 8.30am. Parking spaces in the handiest public car park at Mill Street across the Salmon Weir bridge fill up early, so be armed with good strong baskets and bags. And visit the website for a handy Google map at www.galwaymarket.net. Lorna Siggins
SHOPPING LIST (Prices per kilo)
Potatoes: 40c
Eating apples: six for €1
Carrots: €3 (organic); 50c (not organic)
Farmhouse brie or equivalent: €12-€18
Marmalade: €4.80 a pot
Native oysters (Connemara): €12
Mackerel whole : €5
Octopus: €8.50
Tiger prawns (farmed): €17.50
Loaf of Malthouse multigrain: €4. 20 or spelt bread: €4
Focaccia: €3.50-€4
Yummy crepes: from €2
Galway Market – Saturdays and Bank Holidays, 8am-6pm; Sundays 2-6pm
