Coal Quay Revival
May be it was the spring sunshine. Maybe it was the band. Maybe it was the street entertainer guy who used plasticine to cover his face with a Devil Mask. Maybe it was the chirpy Easter chick.
Can’t quite put my finger on it but, for the first time in a while, I left the Saturday Coal Quay Market with a good feeling, some unexpected purchases and an expectation that I would be back.
The food section is, unfortunately, situated at the far end of Cornmarket Street, but it had the crowd last Saturday and there seemed to be more stalls than usual. Regulars at other markets, such as Natural Food Bakery and O'Driscoll’s Fish (who often sell out early), were in place and busy. Got some yeast bread and a terrific Date Slice from the bakery whose stock (it was about 12.30pm), was also diminishing.
Lots of snack stalls, including Green Kiwi (coffee) and the Crepe Man. All active. Plant stalls too and no shortage of free range eggs. Oh yes and there is an apple stall here that doesn't appear at the other main markets (Douglas excepted). Mealagulla Orchards are from Ovens and they do a tasty juice, though €3.50 a bottle is a little dearer than their competitors. 
Recently, one of the local papers featured a nettle soup recipe by Darina Allen. Well, you can get your nettles here at 2.50 a bag. And wild garlic (also 2.50) and a whole lot more, including rocket. Bought a little bag of Sprouting Broccoli (3.00). All these are available from Caroline’s Home-grown Vegetables.
Get on down and have a “wander” along Cornmarket Street on a Saturday.
