Athy's Tuesday market will return to Emily Square

Emily Square in Athy will be open to the Tuesday market after long-awaited renovations are complete.

That’s the message from local councillor Mark Leigh, who said he received an email to that effect last Thursday from the council’s Public Realm team.

There was consternation on social media in recent days with some people apparently under the impression that the market is finishing up for good.

Cllr Leigh took the opportunity to set the record straight – he explained that Emily Square is being revamped and the market is moving up beside the library for the duration of the works to the square.

The Labour councillor said he will go down on Tuesday to talk to the traders.

The Kildare Co Council Chief Executive’s management report for July stated that notice has been given to market traders regarding the temporary relocation of the market on a Tuesday.

It explained that the contract for Emily Square has been awarded with a proposed start date of September. The report said the market will be temporarily relocated to the nearby Barrow View car park.

Frank Taaffe’s ‘Eye on the Past’ column for this week delves into the history of the Tuesday market in Athy – a fascinating read on pg 21.