Years ago, the Iveagh markets on Dublin’s Francis street was a thriving hub, home to stall holders selling their wares to all-comers. It was built in the Edwardian style–at some expense – by Lord Iveagh of the Guinness family – to provide a home for the local traders. It opened in 1906. Many of those traders had, in the late nineteenth century, plied their trade on the land to the north of St Patrick’s cathedral. Here again the Guinness family had invested in creating the beautiful park we know as St Patrick’s park for the citizenry to enjoy, and housing for local people run by the Iveagh trust.
But part of the act of parliament that Lord Iveagh secured, to build and gift the markets to Dublin corporation, was a clause that stipulated that should the corporation cease to run it as a market, the Iveagh markets would revert to the heirs of lord Iveagh. In December of last year, that reversion was claimed by the Ned Guinness, the 4th Earl of Iveagh, after the building had long since ceased trading as a market, and plans to re-open it had stalled again and again.
Lord Iveagh’s plan is to renovate, refurbish and rebuild a market that will serve the Dublin of the 21st century. A dispute over ownership of Dublin's Iveagh market building is currently in mediation, and we await its resolution. Lord Iveagh Ned Guinness along with Kevin McGowan, executive chairman of AMN Guinness markets limited which will oversee the new development joined Pat on the show to tell about the plans and a hope of a resolution.
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