The English Market

Ireland’s most famous covered food market – located in heart of Cork City (only a 10 minute drive from the Cork International Hotel)

Situated in the heart of Cork City, the English Market is a roofed food market and has been trading since 1788 and is a world renowned. It was developed and still owned by Cork City Council, the Market is one of the oldest municipal markets of it’s kind in the world.

The current mix of traders in the English Market represents a diversity as broad as at any time over the centuries of it’s existence. Small stalls sit alongside larger businesses. Fledgling traders beside long-established family businesses passed down from one generation to the next. Meats and fish, herbs and spices, fruit and vegetables, sauces and oils, chocolates and cakes, cheeses and pastas – the Market caters for all culinary tastes and all eating occasions!

You’ll also find crockery, t-shirts, novelty items, clothes alterations and art – an eclectic mix itself creating a diversity of customers, adding further to the unique atmosphere of the English Market.

The English Market was visited by Queen Elizabeth from the United Kingdom in 2011 where she was hosted by Pat O’Connell from Kay O’Connell Fish.

Having experienced the sights, sounds and smells of the Market, customers can unwind and sample it’s tastes and enjoy the banter from the various café’s, deli’s and food plates from the atypical stalls. Some famous traders include On the Pigs Back Cheese, Kay O’Connell, Frank Hederman, Tom Durcan Meats.

To ensure that tourists and casual visitors to the English Market can get the maximum from their visit, tour groups are encouraged to come outside of peak trading hours.  In general, the busier trading hours of 11.00 am – 4.30 pm daily should be avoided (Friday and Saturday can be particularly hectic).