Casual trading is being expanded to more areas of Dublin
Locations like the Docklands, O’Connell Street, Foster Place, and Portobello Harbour are all set to play host to casual trading activities.
While spots like the top of Grafton Street, Coppinger Row, Store Street, Wolfe Tone Park and Heuston Station are set to be de-designated for casual traders, due a lack of demand in some cases and street reconfiguration in others.
Casual trading is where a trader uses a public road or designated casual trading area to sell their goods. Examples around Dublin include jewellery and fashion stalls on Liffey Street Lower, and fruit and veg stalls and flower sellers on Marlborough Street.
The changes are taking place because the council is aiming to “support outdoor city life” and “promote vibrant and safe street markets”, according to DCC senior executive David Forde.
“Since the pandemic we’ve looked at increasing some of the spaces that are in use,” he told councillors at last week’s Planning and Urban Regeneration Special Policy Committee.
This, he said, had changed how the council looked at usage of outdoor space in the core city area.
Social Democrats councillor Catherine Stocker said she liked the idea of bringing stalls to Foster Place, which sits alongside the Bank of Ireland building on College Green.
“I think that would be a really good spot for what it’s worth. It’s kind of dead space there as it currently is and it could be brought back to life,” she said.
Mr Forde also confirmed that the council was considering the new college Green plaza for casual trading, saying “initial discussions” were being held with the project team.
Along with the addition and removal of some casual trading areas, more adjustments are taking place around trading times and the introduction of new themed markets.
Those designated themed spaces are on Portobello Harbour, Moore Street, Thorncastle Street, College Green and Newmarket, and respond to a demand for “event-driven” markets, according to DCC.
The casual trading bye-laws will now be reviewed by councillors, and a public consultation will be carried out before they are finalised.
The additional spaces where casual trading will be allowed are:
The areas de-designated where casual trading will no longer be allowed are:
Ranelagh Triangle (except for themed markets)
Wolfe Tone Park (except for themed markets)