Cork has “pity for the citizens” of Dublin who are without a facility to rival their English Market, a leading columnist has said.

On Moncrieff today, The Irish Examiner’s Michael Moynihan said there is a “false logic” in Ireland that anything happening in the capital “is better than anywhere else in the country”.

It follows claims by the new Chief Executive of Dublin City Council (DCC) Richard Shakespeare that the redevelopment of a Victorian market on Mary’s Lane will be “far better” than the English Market in Cork when it’s expected to open in 2026.

Mr Moynihan said people in Cork don’t see competition coming their way any time soon.

“The reaction in Cork has been one of a certain amount of pity for the citizens of the capital that they don’t have a facility like this of their own,” he said.

“They have our best wishes that, maybe in time, they’ll approach the levels of Nirvana that is the English Market.

“I think there is an attitude all over the country that if something happens, the immediate reaction is ‘if this happened in Dublin it would be front page news’.

“I defect from this false logic that if this is happening in Dublin, it will be better than anywhere else in the country.”

History

Mr Moynihan said the English Market’s history is unrivaled.

“I did think it was surprisingly non-PC to guarantee that something that doesn’t actually exist is going to be better than something now entering its fourth century of operation,” he said.

"The English market is a working market where seven generations of people have gone in every Saturday or Wednesday for their meat, fruit, veg, and fish.

“That is what makes the English Market so unique; yes, you will have thousands of tourists coming in but at the end of the day it is a working market.”

Queen Elizabeth II at the English Market in Cork on May 20th, 2011. Picture by: Anwar Hussein / Alamy Stock Photo

Mr Moynihan said DCC should have consulted with the English Market before making the claims.

“I think they could have found a few lessons to take on board before they make promises and write cheques their track record won’t cash,” he said.

“We saw what happened with the Children’s Hospital so you’d nearly want to be opening [the market] and cutting the ribbon before you make a bold announcement on its future.”

The English Market was first opened in 1788 and was visited by Queen Elizabeth II on her 2011 state visit to Ireland.

You can listen back here: