Royal destinations:QUEEN ELIZABETH'S visit to Cork's English Market on Friday, May 20th will be a great fillip to the 223-year-old institution. But for foodies, perhaps the crowning compliment was paid when Rick Stein, the seafood chef and restaurateur from Padstow in Cornwell, said, with great simplicity: "In my opinion this is the best covered market in the UK and Ireland."
It's hard to do better than that.
Founded in 1788 by Cork's then Protestant, or English, city corporation, the Prince's Street market was modelled on similar ones which had sprung up in provincial cities around Britain. Since then, the market has survived the vagaries of history, including world wars, rebellions civil war, recessions and fire. In the 1970s, the city authorities even toyed with the idea of demolition, happily to no avail.
Today's market hall, with its beautifully restored and maintained red brick and tile interior, first-floor gallery and restaurant and cast iron pillars supporting timber buttresses which support the roof, is firmly established as a high-quality food emporium. It is a showcase for the best local produce: meat, fish, cheeses, fruit and vegetables - much of it organic, as well as pastas, cured meats, olives, sauces and oils.
The English Market stands the equal of similar markets throughout continental Europe . . . let alone England.