'English market' protest over royal visit

One of two websites about the English Market in Cork was used to highlight a rally protesting against the visit of Queen Elizabeth…

One of two websites about the English Market in Cork was used to highlight a rally protesting against the visit of Queen Elizabeth to the market next Friday.

The site, www.corkenglishmarket.ie, was set up a number of years ago by Jonathan McKee, a former stall-holder before Cork City Council set up their own website on the market.

The home page of the site for a short time featured a large headline proclaiming “Rebel Cork not Royal Cork” and gave details of a rally taking place next Friday, May 20th, at 12.30pm to protest at the visit of Queen Elizabeth to the market.

The notice said the rally was “an alternative event to the royal visit, celebrating Irish Republicanism, resistance, history, culture and Rebel Cork.”

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The notice was taken down a short time later and the site has now returned to normal.

Mr McKee told The Irish Times he used the site to draw attention to the rally.

The Queen and Prince Philip are scheduled to visit the English Market next Friday.

It is understood the Queen will unveil a plaque marking her visit to the market, which will be closed to the public for the duration of the visit.

She will meet as many as 10 of the 50 or so stallholders who trade there.

It is the oldest food market on the island and its history can be traced back to 1788.

The market, which was originally associated with the Protestant upper classes, first became known as the English Market in the 1840s to distinguish it from another market which opened on the Coal Quay and which catered more for the Catholic Irish.