The English Market is a covered food market in the centre of Cork, running between Princes Street and the Grand Parade. It has traded on the site since 1788, and most of its halls date from the Victorian era. Under the arched wooden roof you will find stalls selling fresh fish, meat, cheese, bread, fruit and vegetables, and many of Cork's restaurants buy their produce here. Look for local specialities such as drisheen and spiced beef, then take a seat at one of the cafés.
Origins and the Victorian halls
The market has been on this site since 1788, but most of the buildings that make up the modern market date from the Victorian era. The market was reshaped in response to a competing market that opened close by.
In 1862, Cork city and county surveyor Sir John Benson was asked to design a new layout for the part now called Princes Street Market. His plan added a grand entrance on Princes Street, a roofed interior and a balcony.
The original section, Grand Parade Market, was updated about twenty years later. Together, the two halls make up the market you see today, with brick and cast-iron construction and a dome-shaped ceiling that lets in light.
The fire of 1980 and the restoration
In 1980, a gas explosion and fire destroyed the Princes Street part of the market. Cork City Council then carried out a large restoration. The work won a conservation award from Europa Nostra, a heritage foundation.
The rebuild followed the original Victorian design closely, so the halls still look much as they did in the nineteenth century.
The market is owned and run by Cork City Council, which makes it one of the oldest municipal food markets in the world.
What is sold inside
Stalls cover meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, spices, fresh herbs, cheese, baked goods and chocolate. Many of Cork's leading restaurants buy their produce here, so the stalls are a good guide to what is fresh in the city.
The Alternative Bread Company bakes more than forty varieties of handmade bread each day. Tom Durcan's Meats sells vacuum-packed local specialities, including spiced beef and dry-aged beef. Frank Hederman's smoked salmon is also sold here.
Several fishmongers sell fresh seafood, and some stalls sell olives, cheese and other products to take home.
Local specialities to try
Drisheen is a blood sausage and a Cork favourite. Battlebord is dried, salted ling. Spiced beef is seasoned with ginger, cloves, pimento, cinnamon and black pepper, and it is similar to pastrami. Tripe is also sold here.
Stallholders often allow you to taste before you buy, which is the easiest way to decide. If you are unsure of a cut or a cure, ask the seller to explain it.
For a fresh loaf or a sausage to take away, O'Flynn's Gourmet Sausages sells freshly grilled sausages for eating on the go.
Eating inside the market
The Farmgate café sits inside the market and looks down over the stalls. It serves traditional Irish dishes such as lamb stew, and it is a good place for a full Irish breakfast or a scone to start the day. Some of its dishes use ingredients bought from the market.
A café on the upper floor serves chowder with buttered brown bread. You need to go upstairs to eat, and you wait to be seated.
For a quicker meal, the market has a sandwich stall with doorstep sandwiches and salads, and a sushi counter that sells maki rolls.
Visiting with access needs
The main entrance is wheelchair accessible. The market has a wheelchair accessible parking lot, and parking there is paid.
The halls are busy at midday, so a morning visit gives more space to move between stalls.
FAQ
Is there an entry fee?
No. Browsing the market is free, and you pay only for what you buy or eat.
Is the English Market open on Sundays?
No. It is closed on Sundays, so plan your visit for Monday to Saturday.
Can you pay by card?
Debit cards and mobile payments are accepted, but some stallholders prefer cash, so carry some.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
The entrance, the restroom and the parking lot are listed as wheelchair accessible.
What local food should I try?
Look for drisheen, spiced beef, battlebord and tripe, all regional specialities sold here.
