Dublin marks St Patrick's festival with French market
Traders selling shamrock on the streets during St Patrick’s Day celebrations had an unexpected rival this year – in the form of a French market.
Crepes, camembert, salami sausage and Dijon mustard were among the distinctively un-Irish items on offer to the bank holiday crowds in the cities of Dublin and Limerick.
While the rest of the capital was decorated in green bunting, Wolfe Tone Square was transformed into a French market place, with boulangers from across Normandy setting out their stalls.
“It’s great for Irish-French relations,” said butcher Ali Chbon, who was among the 30 vendors drawing in the crowds.
“The success has been amazing, I don’t think people expected to see something like this in the middle of the St Patrick’s celebrations.”
Organiser Philippe Basset said he usually only took the market across the Channel to England, but decided to try it in Ireland at the request of the St Patrick’s festival committee.
Maria Moynihan, chief executive of the St Patrick’s festival, said council officials in Limerick came up with the idea of bringing the market over for the bank holiday weekend.
“They had seen it in the UK and thought it would be great to bring it over here,” she said.
“The response has been amazing. I think they will definitely be coming back.”
The market began in Dublin’s Wolfe Tone Square last Tuesday, and then moved on to Limerick today, where it was due to stay for St Patrick’s Day tomorrow.
Jean Paul Batard, a baker from le Havre, said he came over with enough produce to last the whole week but had run out already.
“This lorry was full of baguettes,” he said. “Now it’s empty and we’re only half way through the week. It’s been extremely popular.
“We were expecting the Irish weather to be terrible but it has been beautiful. I’m sure we’ll be back next year.”
Customers said they were delighted to find the market tucked away among the festivities.
“It’s a hell of a lot cheaper than taking a Ryanair flight to Paris,” said Jim Mulcahey of Rathmines, who bought garlic sausage, four different cheeses and a bag of pistachios.
“It’s a marvellous idea,” he said. “It’s proof of a new Ireland, a more cosmopolitan Ireland.”
Hotel worker Lauriane Gazeau, who is working in Dublin but originally from the French city of Tours, said it showed importance of the French community in Ireland.
“We weren’t expecting this at all,” she said. “I can’t believe how busy it is. I’m sure they will be back next year.”
