Sir, – Reading the interview with Dublin City Council chief executive Richard Shakespeare (“Dublin City Council’s new chief: ‘If I can help climate efforts by making it a little more difficult for motorists, well then that’s what I’ll do’”, News, April 6th), it seemed to me he was allowed to issue the equivalent of a “prepared statement” containing questionable assertions such as “We do crisis well in the city”, apparently because after last November’s riot, rubbish was cleared away and the asphalt was repaired. Amazing.
What about the dozen other crises the city is currently undergoing? He says, “I have to confess I was immensely proud of all our staff.” How is that a confession? I am proud of those staff too, but I don’t welcome doe-eyed fawning. That was laid on with a trowel, to quote Celia from another Shakespeare’s As You Like It, and I didn’t like it. – Yours, etc,
PETER LYNCH,
Blackrock,
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Co Dublin.
Sir, – As expected as the first cuckoo of spring, we receive another update from Dublin City Council promising progress on the markets in Dublin (“Dublin’s Victorian fruit and vegetable market finally to reopen”, News, April 6th). The new chief executive Richard Shakespeare is correct to draw attention to his shortcomings in the matter, but is characteristically vague on what is actually envisioned for this dedicated market space. He parochially digs at the English Market in Cork, yet this a true food market that has against the odds survived in a very supermarket orientated Ireland and is genuinely accessible to all comers.
What I suspect he has in mind, particularly with the extraordinary budget of €25 million, is a glorified “Time Out”-style market, that will focus on ready to eat food, tourism and leave very little for the locals of Dublin.
I would take this opportunity to remind the Dublin City Council executive that both the Fruit and Vegetable Market and the Iveagh Market are lawful markets that have market rights, that have in both cases been denied to the people of Dublin by the council. Those rights should guarantee the liberty to enter the market to buy and sell produce.
Putting a collection of takeaway food vendors and restaurants where there should be a vibrant, accessible and bustling produce market is straight out of the cuckoo playbook. – Yours, etc,
TOBY SIMMONDS,
Cork.
A chara, – I am delighted to hear the Dublin Fruit and Vegetable Market will be opening and that Dublin’s need for greens and legumes will be satiated.
However, it could be suggested that the council get a bit creative when leasing out the space.
During Culture Night in 2022, the council made the Victorian market available to a group called Night Moves. This involved a DJ, a light show, music and dancing until after midnight. I remember thinking for days after how this roaring success was unlike any other events available in Dublin. It was exactly the kind of support that is needed for Dublin’s struggling night life as highlighted by the Give Us the Night campaign. The council should make a provision for the new operator to allow a late-night event in the market once a month. Mr Shakespeare has already envisioned use of the building from 10am until 10pm. Why not think even bigger and go beyond midnight? – Is mise,
JACK DOORLY,
Dublin 8.