King James I may not have anticipated purchasing fresh falafels when he approved a market for Tuam in north Galway, but that 400-year-old right has been reclaimed as part of a national campaign by casual traders.
Toby Simmonds of the Real Olive Company in west Cork said he was delighted with the response to the campaign initiated just a week ago to copperfasten unused market rights in towns and villages before today's deadline.
Under the Casual Trading Act 1995, which was introduced in June 1996, "market rights" granted by the British crown over a four-century period which remain unexercised for a period of 10 years can be "extinguished" by local authorities.
The Irish Association of Market and Street Traders called on communities last week to set up temporary stalls or pitches in towns and villages which may not hold regular markets before the end of April. Traders were advised to ensure that their brief activity was witnessed or photographed and documented.
Galway city market traders Flo Wagemakers, Mick and Susanna Silke, who normally sell falafels and pancakes outside St Nicholas's Church, set up stalls with colleagues in Clarenbridge, Ballinasloe, Woodford, Kinvara and in Cong, Co Mayo, last week.
The group also traded briefly in Galway city on Wednesday to reclaim the mid-week market, and were given a warm welcome by Tuam Chamber of Commerce when they set up last Thursday in Tuam.
"This is not just about the right to sell lovely fresh produce and crafts. It is about ensuring that towns and villages still have their own identity," said Mr Silke. "So many of our urban areas are beginning to look like British towns with similar shopping chains."
There was a similar response in many counties, apart from several "blackspots" in the northeast and northwest, Mr Simmonds said.
Chef Darina Allen joined the calls to protect farmers' markets. "I really feel very strongly that we should be doing all we can to save these markets. Every town should have a farmers' market where the customer has a choice of buying good food in season if she or he wishes," she said yesterday.
