'I've made some great friends here' Waterford's Country Market to celebrate 70 years
From Left to Right: Massimo, Brian, Kate, Chris, John and Roger
In an old church turned community hall, every Friday morning is something very special, Waterford City’s oldest market.
The Country Market at St Olaf’s Hall is celebrating its 70th birthday this month.
The Waterford News and Star visited the market to meet some of the sellers and see the wonderful produce on sale.
The market’s “longest serving member,” 81-year-old John Harris has been selling his plants for 30 years.
“I’ve enjoyed my life at the market over the years. What I like about it today is it’s a mixture of people now.
“It's fabulous. Everyone has integrated well and we are all friends. That’s important too.
“I’ve made some great friends here,” said John.
Originally from Cork, John describes himself as an “old-fashioned gardener”.
All of his plants start out in a greenhouse but are “hardened” in his garden.
And if he grows something of use to another seller, he will pass it on and vice versa.
“I’m an old-fashioned gardener. The only roof my plants been under before I sell them is the sky,” said John.
Just beside John’s table is Market Secretary Chris Hillianrd’s vegetables and a sign that reads, “No air miles, only six road miles”.
Some of Chris’s cucumbers started life in John’s garden.
Chris told the Waterford News and Star that the members are all local and take great pride in their produce.
“It’s lovely to hear people say they enjoyed the lettuce, that it had a lovely flavour off the beans. It's lovely. People are very complimentary, and that’s nice, said Chris.
The market began 70 years ago in Durand’s Yard, now Durand’s Court.
They moved to Alexander Street until the premises was redeveloped and onto St Olafs around 28 years ago.
The market is still based in St Olaf’s Hall today and opens every Friday from 9am to 2pm.
St Olaf's was used as a church until the 70s and again during the renovations at Christ Church Cathedral.
The building is gorgeous, and its most stunning feature the beautiful stained-glass window, which stands proud over every group and celebration.
“There must be photographs of that all over the world because all the tourists come in and take pictures of it,” said Christ.
Now St Olaf’s is home to various community groups, including the cooperative that runs the Country Market.
Vegetables, homemade preserves, soup, jewellery, honey and lots more are on sale, and the furthest any of it has travelled is Wexford.
While all sellers at the market are local, Chris said there is a mix of nationalities and the co-op welcome everyone.
“We have English, we have Italian, Brazilian, we have Welsh, Polish and we even have a fella from Cork. So, we are cosmopolitan,” said Chris.
One of those sellers is Massimo from Italy.
Massimo sells homemade bread, biscuits and other pastries from his home country.
“The pastry is something you can’t find in shops. I am Italian, so all of this stuff is Italian style,” said Massimo.
Chris told us that Massimo is most well-known for his sourdough.
And Massimo said that the flour he uses comes from Southern Italy.
In fact, that is the idea of Massimo’s stall- it’s a taste of Italy.
“There is something typical from every region of Italy. Something to travel around and discover every part of Italy,” said Massimo.
Beside Massimo is the Jolly Roger Smokehouse, selling smoked cheese and garlic as well as kombucha.
The very jolly Roger told the Waterford News and Star that he is particularly proud of his kombucha.
“I think I create something like a magic potion because it’s so lively,” he said, showing us the inside of the colour-filled recycled bottle.
“It is so lively and bubbly, I think I am responsible for the best kombucha in the world,” said Roger.
Kate O’Brien and her mother sell a variety of wares at the Country Market.
Kate sells handmade and repurposed jewellery under the name The Famous Black Velvet, which you can find on Instagram.
Her mother makes knits, perseveres and they both make soap.
Kate told us that they started with an olive oil soap and now they have expanded their range to include a variety of botanicals, all grown in her mother’s garden.
“Olive oil was the first one. It was made because there is psoriasis in my family and olive oil soap is actually hard to find,” said Kate.
Another family stall is run by the market’s treasurer, Gloria Everett from Wexford.
Gloria makes children’s knits and baked goods, while her daughter makes preserves, dressings and handmade cards.
Gloria also makes the very popular Christmas cakes and advises anyone looking to order to do so in October.
“I do a bit of this and a bit of that,” said Gloria.
Gloria told us that the market has a membership of 16 but used to have 27.
They would like to see more people joining, especially, Chris says, vegetable growers.
But Gloria said she would just like to see more variety in crafts and perhaps baked goods too.
“Really, the world’s their oyster. Anything that is a bit different,” said Gloria.
Gloria pointed out that if one were to join the co-op in say, November, their membership fee would cover them for 14 months instead of the usual 12.
Membership costs €40 a year plus a percentage of what you sell, and as John said, if you don’t sell anything in a week, it doesn’t cost anything to set up.
Markets like this are special not just because of the very friendly sellers and the produce they sell but because they survive and thrive in a city full of supermarkets.
But if customers are looking for local, homegrown produce, environmentally friendly and at a reasonable cost, the Country Market at St Olaf’s Hall may be the place.
And the best time to visit may be this Friday.
In celebration of its 70th birthday, the Country Market is hosting a coffee morning and raffle in aid of Waterford Hospice.
Check it out from 9am to 1pm on Friday, September 25.
