A Morning in My City: The Milk Market, Limerick

Last Saturday I visited the Milk Market the first time, a lively Saturday food market entertaining Limerick crowds since 1852. Yes, I know, this is ridiculous for a person living in Limerick for oh, nine odd years, but better late than never, eh?

Anyway, now that I’ve finally made it, I know what all the fuss was about, and why @GastroMama and GastroDad make it a regular Saturday morning habit. They potter about the stalls, have a chat with the food and craft producers, and retire for a cup of coffee to read the papers and watch the hustle and bustle of the market unfold.

With the crisp January morning granting us a brief reprise from rain, we strolled down town and into the market for a morning coffee and some interesting buys, perusing everything from fresh plaice to vintage clothing and homeopathic products. While the majority of the stalls are comfortably sequestered under a state-of-the-art white canopy (see graphic), some, in true old-fashioned fayre style, do spill down the windy old streets of this interesting part of Limerick city.

The first task of the day – feeding my boyfriend – was quickly accomplished with a brief stop off at Country Choice, where he, along with a dozen or so members of his sex, dazed lovingly at the sizzling sausages and black pudding as they were carefully layered on top of a breakfast bun. Munching happily, he accompanied me and my warming Mocha along the stalls, examining and tasting all sorts of delicacies from locally-produced cheese and fresh olives to deliciously aromatic Indian dishes.

Meeting @Gastromama, I was shepherded through the crowds to be introduced to Gerry from Kiely’s Garden Centre, who rather than make a quick buck out of selling us some growing herbs, advised us to hold off until the seasons were right or else risk losing every blade or leaf in the first frosty morning. Later, perusing some rather tired looking chillies at the vegetable stalls, the owner told me to take them for free, instead of waiting to see if I’d buy them as they were.

It is this kind of one-to-one interaction and genuine product and customer care that means people still travel in their droves to markets just like this one all across Ireland, eschewing – even for just one afternoon – the central heating and impossible discounting of monster supermarkets.

Jettisoning the other half, I then began a leisurely amble through the streets of Limerick, picking up bits and pieces along the way. One noteworthy stop on my relaxed route home was Cornstore at Home, a delightful gourmet food shop I could have happily spent hours in. Boasting shelf after shelf of many difficult-to-find ingredients – organic and otherwise – alongside a variety of own-branded delicatessen products, this foodie haven will be a future must-go when I next need to indulge my ingredient shopping habit.

I was quite pleased to see also that the prices are not overly expensive either, especially in comparison to similar gourmet food providers elsewhere. Conscious of my earlier food purchases, I largely resisted the amazing array of products, but did pick up a freshly prepared blue cheese dressing, which I’d like to say went on a beautiful and healthy salad, but no, with a post-Munster rugby win hangover, it was smothered over buffalo chicken wings. Classy I ain’t, I know.

All in all, a lovely day spent wandering through my much-loved adopted city, taking in the sights, sampling the products and most of all, enjoying the people.

Pics my own and from Milkmarket.ie and CornstoreatHome.com