For many of the older generation, a fond memory of Donegal Town is the markets held on the Diamond every Saturday. Fresh farm produce, livestock and various other items were traded, country people met, the ladies did their shopping, and the men had a Guinness and told stories. Once a month on the second Friday, the market expanded to become a fair, again centred around the Diamond area.
Last weekend, Donegal once again became a market, but with a difference – this time it was the French who came to town – bringing with them their distinctive Gallic ambience – the Diamond became a sea of red, white and blue as they set up their stalls covered by bright canopies. Carefully, and with pride, the traders laid out their products, wines, cheeses, olives, mustards, fruit and vegetables, perfumes, confectionary, herb and spices, biscuits, crepes and more. The crowds arrived, browsed, sampled, enjoyed the atmosphere, the cooking aromas, the food selection and the banter.
Friday morning was a revelation, the Diamond was alive, as shoppers mingled through the stalls, queued for crepes, sausages and waffles, haggled with the traders and revelled in the mood and spirit of the occasion.
But it was not to last – early afternoon Friday, Health Board officials arrived, armed with closure orders. A stand-off ensued, but you can’t argue with officialdom. By evening, all the hot food outlets were closed and the sale of some cheeses, breads, biscuits and olives stopped, effectively cutting the heart out of the whole operation.
The French were mystified and upset - local people were incensed. Big brother had done it again – bureaucracy against common sense – and the loser, as usual, the person on the street, simply enjoying an unusual event, its vitality, gaiety and charm.
Donegal Times got
some reaction:
Laurent and Irina Tranier now living at Drumcliffe, Donegal Town said they were delighted with the French Market – “it was what we were used to when we lived in France. The markets are just like this - the only thing missing was the meat counter. We like the French cheeses and were glad to be able to stock up on them.”
Nuala Toland – “This is brilliant and I particularly enjoy the smells of the different market stalls – it is a great idea and there should be one held at least once a month. These products are a nice treat – we usually have to travel outside
of town to purchase these. I think it’s terrible for the NWHB to be spoiling the atmosphere in town”
Michelle Gordon, London – “Bureaucracy gone mad”
Maurice Timony, Timony News, “It’s good to see that there is one law for everybody.”
Joey from Canada – “Great occasion, local people meeting and talking, also sampling foods and enjoying a different culture – creating great vibes in the centre of town. I would like to see markets of this type every month – help to bring in more trade and shoppers”.
Conor Sinclair – “It’s officialdom gone crazy”.
Heike Thiele – “I have not been living here long but have had to return produce bought locally on numerous occasions and was looking forward to purchasing fresh French produce from the market only to be told that some of the stalls had been closed down by the health officials – do these officials check all stores in Co. Donegal?”
J.P. Prevost, Chef in the area, who talked to the stall owners and helped translate – “This is so disappointing for the traders”.
An American tourist waiting to re-board her bus at Magees on Friday said “This is the best town we have been in since we arrived in Ireland – the atmosphere in the town centre is terrific – and the ham and onion crepe was delightful”.
Why is Donegal different to other parts of Ireland/Europe?
There were five stalls shut down on Friday afternoon by the health officials. The ones selling bread, cheese, waffles, sausages, cake, crepes and olives were told to close and not reopen. Three officials visited the stalls initially, and later a fourth - local boss, Dan Crowley.
Gardai noted the registration numbers on the vehicles of the French traders - also their names - and for some this was a humiliating experience.
Said Vince “We left France on Tuesday evening, sailed to England and then arrived in Ireland on Thursday night, drove to Donegal and set up stalls on Friday morning, only to be closed down on Friday afternoon and told not to open again. We had a lot of work to do to prepare and load before leaving France and the cost of travel and accommodation is high, not to talk about the loss of produce. I have 400 kilos of biscuits destroyed. One thing that annoys us – they would not taste the food, but talked about contamination. They did not agree with self-service though when we visit some of the stores around town, they are self-service. We are trading for over 15 years and this is the first closure. We are residing in the Abbey Hotel and have stayed in our rooms a lot today as we are sad to see our stalls closed and so many people around – and when we came out a lot of people who purchased from us yesterday are back today for more and we have to explain. What is different about Donegal to the rest of Europe?’
OK everywhere else
The French Traders told Donegal Times they have operated in Dublin, Belfast, Athlone, Clarenbridge, towns in Scotland and England and have never experienced any problems. The Environmental Health Officer in Dublin actually visited the market and said everything was O.K. The closure notice issued was in English and they did not understand what it said - and the officials were not able to translate it - one French gentleman commented that the date and year had been changed.
It is probable that the order to close came from above and it is not the intention of Donegal Times to cast any reflection on the officials on the ground whose duty was to deliver the notices. These officials would not comment to the Times. but referred our reporter to the Board’s press office in Manorhamilton (see statement at end of article).
This was the old market area of Donegal Town – and it should not require a licence for anyone to come in to sell their wares. There were 11 particular reasons listed for making the closure order (see below).
Lynn on NWR
On North West Radio yesterday (Monday), Magee Chairman, Lynn Temple, was scathing in his criticism of the Health Board. “It was an occasion of wonderful Gallic colour, a lovely spectacle, great for the town, crowds of people, and then these people come in and close down some of the stalls - it’s disgraceful - the interpratation of health and safety in Donegal in particular, and Ireland at large, is ludicrous - officious officials have too much power. I don’t want to be dictated to - what I eat - what I don’t eat. It’s outragous that these people should dictate that a market which operates throughout Europe cannot operate in Donegal. It beggars belief that lovely food that can be sold all over the continent cannot be sold in Donegal because of some crazy interpretation of health and safety regulations.”
North Western Health
Board Statement
A statement issued yesterday, Monday, by the North Western Health Board ‘The NWHB became aware on Friday that several food stalls were operating without an appropriate licence and an investigation was initiated. Closure orders were served on five food stalls as they posed a grave and immediate risk to public health’
