Indoor market a key priority for Chamber

The market is identified as part of an overall ‘Master Rejuvenation Plan’ for the city centre and Salthill to help businesses recover from the economic downturn.

It is contained in the Chamber’s ‘Economic Development Plan 2015-2020’.

According to the business group, the country market would create employment in both the city and the county, increase footfall into the city centre and create a new tourist attraction.

The Chamber said that a joint investment from the private sector and the City Council would help the development of small dairy manufacturing, as has happened in Clare.

“The successful development of small manufacturers of dairy product [in Clare] is an outcome of support from the larger players in the food sector, leveraging the science and technology of a Technology Park run by Teagasc.

“This Public-Private investment surpassed expectations in terms of the numbers of new companies and products that come through there.

“Such a development in the West with Teagasc could be supported by Galway City through an investment in a covered food and craft market to promote local food, create a unique hospitality character, and attract people into the city.

“This would equally serve producers of craft products and artists looking to create small business opportunities within the surrounding towns of the region,” the plan reads.

It adds that the focus of the market would be for food and crafts produced within the region.

Private investment (including from suppliers), matched with investment from the city, would allow the Chamber to “identify and repurpose a suitable city site that can link the medieval and harbour districts”.

“The mission is to create a unique food and craft market for the Region that supports local enterprise, including the production of artisan foods (both land and sea-based) supplying the home and restaurant market,” it reads.

For more on this story, see this week's Galway City Tribune