List of market houses in the Republic of Ireland


Market houses are a notable feature of many Irish towns with varying styles of architecture, size and ornamentation making for a most interesting feature of the streetscape. Originally there were three, four or even five bays on the ground floor which were an open arcade. An upper floor was often used as a court house or ballroom. Ornamentation consisted of a cupola, a clock or sometimes a dome or tower. Today most of the Market Houses in Ireland have been put to use as cultural venues or business premises. Some are still derelict.

Table of market houses locations

Town
County
Built
Current use
Image and/or link
AbbeyleixLaois18365 bay, 2-story building until 2005 used as a fire station and library – currently being renovated as a state of the art library/exhibition centre.
ArdaraDonegalc. 1840Heritage Centre
ArvaghCavan1837Library & council offices
AthloneWestmeath18th centuryDemolished 1830s
AthyKildare1745Heritage Centre, & Library
AughrimWicklowc. 1860Restaurant
BailieboroughCavan1818Library
BalbrigganDublin1811Furniture Store
BallinaghCavan1821Disused
BallinamoreLeitrim–Library
BallybayMonaghan1848For Sale
BallinrobeMayo1752District Court House
BallitoreKildarec. 1780, renovated c. 1840In ruins
BallybofeyDonegalc. 1820Post Office & Training Centre
BallyconnellCavanc. 1838Disused
BallyhaiseCavan20th century ?–
BallyjamesduffCavan1813Restaurant & Shop
BallymoteSligoc. 1870South Co. Sligo Community Mental health service of the Health Service Executive
BallymahonLongford1819Renovated into new Library, One stop shop and Community Hall 2011
BantryCork–Offices
BirrOffaly1845Formerly a Church Hall, now a Market
BlacklionCavan–Tourist information centre
BlessingtonWicklowc. 1820Credit Union
BoyleRoscommon–Unused ?
BrayWicklow1881–1883Previously Town Hall, now McDonald's fast food outlet
ButtevantCork18th centuryCommunity Centre Community Hall.
CahirTipperaryc. 1770Library & Court House
CahirciveenKerry19th century ?Shops & Filling Station
CallanKilkennyc. 1825Town hall
CappoquinWaterford–Shop
Carrick-on-ShannonLeitrim1830Design & Craft Centre
CashelTipperary1866Formerly Town Hall, now Tourist information centre
CastleblayneyMonaghan1826To be restored.
CastlecomerKilkennyc. 1800Court House
CastleislandKerryc. 1745Department Store
CastlemartyrCork–Car Showroom
CastlepollardWestmeathc. 1815, burned c. 1921, rebuilt c. 1926Town Hall, fire station
CastlereaRoscommonc. 1825Shop
CelbridgeKildare17th centurySchool in 1709, later incorporated in mill complex
CharlevilleCork1769Shops
ChurchtownCork1845Restored in 2000 as Offices and Residential. See www.markethousegroup.net
ClonakiltyCork1642Chinese restaurant
ClonesMonaghan1844–
ClonmanyDonegalc. 1840Derelict, undergoing restoration
ClonmelTipperary1673Former Court house, later a public house – Substantially restored – now houses art exhibitions, with scale models of historic Clonmel
ClonmellonWestmeath1836–
CobhCork1851Public Library Formerly town hall and courthouse
CollinstownWestmeath1806Demolished in 1950s,
for road straightening
Relocation programmed 2010 T.B.C.-
CootehillCavan–Demolished
CorkCounty Cork–Museum
DelvinWestmeathc. 1850Youth club and Credit Union
DungarvanWaterford19th centuryArts Centre
DunlavinWicklow1743 ?Library, Courthouse and art gallery during the annual Dunlavin Arts Festival
DunleerLouth1820sArts, classes, Events and Civic Centre
EdenderryOffaly1826Formerly Ballroom and Museum, now Court House
EdgeworthstownLongford–Supermarket
EnniscorthyWexford1813 Previously a school and a Methodist chapel
EnnistymonClare–Restaurant
EyrecourtGalway17th centuryDerelict
FinneaWestmeathc. 1850Private House
FrenchparkRoscommonc. 1840Derelict
GlentiesDonegalc. 1840–
GoreyWexford1709Previously a prison and a court house now Local Government Administration & Tourist information centre
GraiguenamanaghKilkenny–Shop
GranardLongford–Courthouse and branch library; part still used for farmers' market
InnishannonCork–Unused and in disrepair
KanturkCorkc. 1657Replaced in 1747
KanturkCork1747 Replaced in 1839
KanturkCork1839 Credit Union
KeadueRoscommonc. 1830–
KellsMeathc. 1800Commercial outbuilding
KenmareKerryc. 1790Auctioneer's Premises
KilbegganWestmeath1828Unoccupied
KildareKildare19th centuryBus Station, Public Toilets, Museum
KilfinaneLimerick18th centuryRuins ?
KilkennyCounty Kilkenny1761–
KillucanWestmeathc. 1838–
KilrushClare–Town Hall
KilleshandraCavanc. 1792Demolished late 1960s, present site of community resource centre. The original MH commemoration stone is built into the wall of a shop further up the street.
KiltyclogherLeitrim1831Guest House, pre-school
KinsaleCorkc. 1600Regional Museum
LetterkennyDonegal–Offices
MacroomCork19th century ?Council Offices
ManorhamiltonLeitrim1834Shop, retail outlet
MidletonCork19th centuryLibrary & Court House
Milltown MalbayClare19th centurypub & Restaurant
MitchelstownCork1823Shop
MonaghanMonaghan1792Arts Venue – see Market House, Monaghan
MonasterevinKildarec. 1830–
MountrathCounty Laoisc. 1730–
MullingarWestmeath–Tourist information centre
NenaghTipperary1812Adult Education Centre for North Tipperary Vocational Education Committee and Restaurant/take away
NewblissMonaghan1830–
Newcastle WestLimerick––
New RossWexford1749, rebuilt 1806–1810Tholsel, Court House, Town Hall from 1840
PiltownKilkenny––
PortarlingtonLaoisc. 1800Petrol station & Garage
RockcorryMonaghan1805Filling Station
RoscommonRoscommon–Bank
RoscreaCounty Tipperary1886Demolished in the 1920s
St George's MarketBelfast1890-96-
ScarriffClare––
ShercockCavan1825Shops
StrokestownRoscommonc. 1830Shop, retail outlet
TemplemoreTipperary1816Town/County Hall
TimoleagueCork–Vacant
TinahelyWicklowc. 1820Branch Library
TraleeKerry1847Chinese Restaurant
TrimMeathc. 1850Town Hall
TullaClarec. 1833Branch Library
TullamoreOffaly1789Building Society
VirginiaCavanc. 1815Courthouse and County Council offices
WexfordWexford1776Wexford Arts Centre
YoughalCork–Heritage Centre