Cork City’s designated casual trading area is located on Cornmarket Street / Kyle Street. This outdoor market is known as the Coal Quay Market and operates on a Saturday. There is a waiting list for pitches for this market. There is also limited vehicular trading on the street. Licences will be allocated subject to strict criteria on quality, ensuring an adequate mix of products in the market, and subject to space and other restrictions.
If you wish to apply to be considered for our waiting list, please complete the Designated Trading Area application form (CT1) and return to this office. Please do not send any payment with your application form.
This would be considered ‘casual trading’ and falls under the remit of the Casual Trading Act 1995 and Cork City Council’s Casual trading bye-laws. Casual trading in the city is limited to the designated area only and other locations for special events only. It is an offence to trade from a mobile unit/van in any public road/ location in the city that is not designated for casual trading.
Casual Trading involves “selling goods on the public road or at a place where the public has access as of right and any other place that is a Designated Casual Trading Area”. Under the Casual Trading Act 1995, anyone engaging in casual trading must hold a Casual Trading Licence and it is an offence under this Act to trade without a valid casual trading licence.
You will need to complete a form to apply for a casual trading licence to trade in a Designated Trading Area. The Designated Trading Area application form is available here and once completed should be returned to Property Dept., Cork City Council or emailed to property@corkcity.ie
Casual trading in Cork City is only permitted in designated Casual Trading areas. Cork City Council’s Casual trading Bye-Laws confine trading to the Designated Area at Cornmarket/Kyle Street, or at a specifically licenced Special Event e,g. concert/match/festival and at a specified location on the day of the event only.
Yes, there is a waiting list for pitches for Cornmarket St Market. In order to apply to be considered for our waiting list, please complete the Designated Trading Area application form (CT1) and return to Property Dept. Do not send any payment with your application form.
Licences will be allocated subject to strict criteria such as quality, a suitable mix of produce in the market, available space and any other criteria applicable at the time.
Cornmarket Street Market operates on a Saturday from approximately 9 am until 2pm.
The current standard fee for a casual trading licence in a Designated Trading Area is €82.50 per quarter (€330.00 per annum). The fee is payable in advance and may vary dependant on factors such as size of pitch and requirement for electricity.
Food vendors require certification that they are registered with the HSE and must comply with all requirements of the local HSE Environmental Health Office. All Traders will also require insurance: public liability, employers’ liability (if applicable) and product liability (if applicable).
No. Trade is restricted to the products stated on your licence only. Any changes will require an application for permission from the City Council.
No, trading is in designated trading bays only.
Trading licences are also issued for specified Special Events in the city, where trading may be allowed in the vicinity of an event for the day or days the event is taking place e.g. GAA matches, St Patrick’s Day parade, Concerts, Festivals etc. The number of pitches is often limited, due to Gardaí requirements, safety requirements and/or space restrictions. Traders are advised to apply a minimum of 4 weeks in advance of an event, using the Special Event Casual Trading Licence Application Form (CT2). You are advised to contact the Property Department in advance of submitting your application form to confirm that licences are being issued for the particular event.
No. The licence is issued for a particular Special Event only. You must make a separate application for each Special Event.
The current fee for a Special Event Trading licences is €25.00 per day (standard pitch) or €125.00 for a vehicle.
No. Casual Trading is regulated by the Casual Trading Act 1995, as amended, together with Cork City Council’s Casual Trading Byelaws. Under the current Byelaws trading is only permitted in the Designated Trading Area or at a licenced Special Event. It is an offence under this Act to trade without a valid casual trading licence. It is an offence to engage in casual trading on public land in Cork City except in that designated area or under licence in respect of a special event.
Please note:
Completed forms should be submitted to:
Property Department,
Corporate Affairs & International Relations Directorate,
Cork City Council,
City Hall,
Cork.
Telephone: 021-4924258, 021-4924259, 021-4924334 Email: property@corkcity.ie
