Country Market as much about social connection as about food

Now in its 34th year, Ballynacargy Country Market is an emporium of locally produced and homemade goods and a social hub at the heart of the community.

It is open from 10am to 12 noon every Friday in the Parochial Hall, and offers an unique opportunity to buy “farm to fork products with absolutely no preservatives”, as well as lovely handcrafts, and, importantly, a chance to sit and chat.

One of the founding members was the late Babby Molphy, whose daughter, the late Doreen Moughty, was also deeply involved. Now Doreen’s husband Tommy, daughter Audrey, daughter-in-law Breda Meere, and granddaughters Kallie and Farrah, are carrying on the family tradition.

Tommy has been involved for 20 years, supplying vegetables, bread and eggs. “It’s a day out,” says Tommy, who is the only male supplier. He finds it “great occupational therapy”.

Audrey supplies greeting cards featuring photographs of local scenes.

Farrah and Kallie supply jewellery and home baked items during the summer holidays and their mother Breda is a regular supplier of home baked goods.

Many of the customers have been attending the Country Market since it started, among them Mary Finnegan. “I have brought buns, cakes, bread from here to Kerry, and to hospitals and what not,” she told the Westmeath Examiner on a recent visit. Recently, Mary had crafts and knitwear supplier Karen Scarnicchio from Kilbeggan make her a bespoke cushion cover as a wedding gift for her husband Brian’s cousin in America. “We put a picture of the bride and groom and their dog on their wedding day in the centre with Irish sayings all around it. It was different and it was easy to post,” Mary said. She pointed out that Karen also makes customised pencil cases.

Newcomer Joe O’Hehir from Mullingar was invited by Ballynacargy Drama Group to perform in their Wigs on the Green production that sold out over three nights earlier this year. He heard about the Country Market and has been coming every week since.

“I love the social aspect and the chat,” he said, “most places you just buy your stuff and are gone, but here you sit and chat.”

Patsy Jordan has long been a supporter of the Country Market and looks forward to it every week. “We are an extended family and everyone that comes is introduced and welcomed,” she said.

Ann Eivers and Mary Walsh, who have been supplying the Country Market for decades, have witnessed many changes over the years. The fact that the products are farm to fork and have no preservatives make them attractive to today’s discerning customer, they say.

Ballynacargy is one of 26 Country Market in the country. It has eight main suppliers – Breda Meere, Karen Scarnicchio, Ann Eivers, Tommy Moughty, Caroline Boyce, Mary Walsh, Joan Murtagh and Roseanne Boyce. They offer home baked breads, scones, apple tarts, cupcakes, lemon slices, carrot cake, as well as homegrown vegetables and bedding plants, eggs, honey and preserves, crafts and cards.