Came by on a Monday at around 2:30 AM, excited to try some food. Unfortunately, everything seemed…read morepretty basic and overpriced, and there didn't seem to be too many options. Instead, the stalls mainly sell produce, meat, cheese, and seafood, which would be great if you were a local, but we were just visiting. There are a few stalls selling things like candies/honey/jams, that were reasonably priced, so we bought a few of those to bring home as souvenirs. We spent probably about half an hour walking around and made it through the entire market. It was fun to walk around and see all the local goods/products, but don't expect a lot of options for good food if you're hungry.

I was expecting more from this English Market. The selections were not that big (pretty basic…read morestuff), but everything seemed to be very pricey. Not impressed at all

Smoked fish from renowned local smoker Frank Hederman, relaibly fesh seafood from Ballycotton…read moresisters (nothing to do wth Ballycotton Seafood), locally grown veg from Davy at Ballintubber Farm, handmade chutneys jams and cakes, fresh farm eggs... you may not have oceans of choice but you have top quality essentials and weekend luxuries are to be found in this idyllic seaside setting. Coffees and market breakfasts from Seasalt Cafe...and photography by local artist. Less is more.

COBH FARMERS MARKET The Cobh Farmers Market (held in and…read morearound the Heritage Centre in picture) was a big let-down for me today with just a handful of stalls opening up, about six in all. It is supposed to be very good in the summer - looks like I'll have to wait and see. In any event, won't be in a hurry down again. Got some roughly filleted fish from a basic stall up the town. The harbour town looked very well indeed and the walk along the West Beach area was very enjoyable.

BLARNEY FARMERS MARKET Twenty or so stalls set up in the…read moregrounds of Blarney Woollen Mills this morning as the regular Thursday Farmer's Market eased into action. Surprised to find an outpost of Manning's Food Emporium there but not surprised at all at the quality of their offerings. Got interested in the cheese and after a couple of tastings and a bit of banter decided on the Coolea. Bread was next on the agenda and a call nearby to the stall of Tom's Bakery (from Kinsale), a regular market attendee, solved that as €3.60 bought a rye loaf. Mealagulla Orchard was displaying cooking apples at just €2.00 for five. Great value as were the eating apples at €2.00 for ten. Left with two bags full! Plenty of other stalls offering food, including cup cakes and relishes and honey (Is it a bit expensive at €7.00 a jar?) and then one or two "craft" stalls and also one selling Native American flutes! Nice mix all round for both local and tourist and very central as well.

BLACKROCK MARKET It may be one of the smallest markets…read morearound but Sunday morning's gathering in Blackrock is not without its fans. Some drive in, some stroll down, even spotted a pair roller skating to the venue today! And why not? It has a lovely riverside location and plenty of parking and space enough for the dozen or so stands that start opening for business around the 10.00am mark and stay there until 2.00pm. Despite the small number of stands, quite a lot is covered. Here you can get hot drinks (O'Connaill's coffee and chocolate among them) and hot bites such as crepes. Then there are burritos and soups and more substantial food items like fish and bread. Even noticed a jewellery stand there. So, if you missed out on the bigger presentations like Mahon (Thursday) and Midleton (Saturday), then all is not lost and a visit to the bottom of the Marina and the fishing village of Blackrock could well save the day for you!

MIDLETON FARMER'S MARKET Enjoyed my walk around the Midleton…read moreFarmers Market this Saturday morning. It was perhaps the market that led to many others being set up and is certainly one of the best, quality at every turn. Bought some Chorizo and Hegarty's Mature Cheddar from the stall run by the busy Fiona Burke (who does three markets a week). Then on to the Ballymaloe Cookery School stall where the Lemon cakes caught the eye and a few were added to the bag. Passed Frank Hederman's smoked fish stall - we had enjoyed some of his smoked mackerel pate in Fenn's Quay the previous evening - to buy a piece of chicken brandy pate from Barry's stand-in (Barry had gone off on a deserved holiday). Then we spotted the star of the morning, a big Neapolitan Mastiff. Everyone just stopped as he strolled along but his sad story was told on a placard on his back: he had been rescued. At least, the story has a happy ending but we were all reminded that these rescue homes need a bit of our help. O'Driscoll's Fish from Schull have a stand here as well and, as in the other locations, it was busy. Bought some fresh looking hake and cod. Bread was next on the agenda and we headed for the Arbutus stall where we were offered two types of rye, one a sourdough, the other with caraway seeds. Took the first and headed for home

This market has gone downhill quickly. Some nice stands but poor varity and not much atmosphere…read more Arbutus breads and the pizza are lovely though,but they are both at the mahon point farmers market on a thursday which is an amazing market,far better than midleton.

Ballincollig Farmers Market has moved to the carpark and it now located closer to Tesco. Today was…read morethe first day that there was live music, but, I've heard that there has been live music before. There are a lot of food options for lunch and can get quite busy, but it is well worth the wait, the food is very tasty and the people are very nice. I have also bought various things from the other stalls and it is great quality. Looking forward to going back again and see what I can eat or buy

BALLINCOLLIG FARMERS MARKET…read more Called to the Ballincollig Farmers Market this Wednesday morning. It is nicely located in the lanes of the new shopping centre but is fairly limited, not very many stalls, at least on this occasion. Had a lively conversation with Joy O'Driscoll of Joy's Jams, mainly about her marmalades, and ending up buying a jar of her gooseberry (€3.50) and a jar of her dark Seville Marmalade (€3.80). Next call was to the Tom's Bread. We've been coming across them lately (previously in the Coal Quay and also, via ABC, in the English Market). This time bought a lovely baked wheat bread (€3.90) with a scattering of hazelnuts surprising the taste buds every now and then. Very enjoyable. Kept circulating and helped ourselves to some decent looking carrots from the farmer's stall, avoided the highly visual temptation of Katie's Cup Cakes and some hot food stalls, including a creperie, before buying a couple of herb plants at €2.00 each from the helpful man at Swanton's Stand, a stand seen regularly in their home base of Skibbereen where the market, much bigger than Ballincollig's, take place every Saturday morning.