Most people that I know do not realise that the is an area in Dublin known as Newmarket and if I mention the name they get confused as they know of Newmarket as being a racecourse in the UK.

Newmarket Square is an old part of Dublin and the City Council have big plans for the redevelopment of the area. Currently the edges of the square are home to the Dublin Food Co-op, the Green Door Market, Teeling Whiskey Distillery and the Dublin Flea Market. But while the centre is sometimes used for markets, it’s often just an empty car park.

A few years ago plans to transform the space into a purpose-built market area were presented to Dublin City councl. The draft plans include paving the entire area, planting trees, putting in a café with outdoor seating, and providing electricity and water points for stall holders. There would also be a car park, DublinBikes station, and seating. Under the plans, the central plaza with trees, a granite platform, and facilities for market use would be known as Universal Square.

Cultural Square would be built on the eastern side of the square. There is a disused ESB substation there that council officials want to convert into a café with sheltered outdoor seating. A DublinBikes station might go there, too.

What is currently Brabazon Place would become Newmarket Square West, a car park with 37 parking spaces, a bus and coach stop, loading bays, and some trees and shrubs. David Healy, an administrator with the council, said that this car park could possibly become a green space at a later date.

Despite the proposals little appears to have changed since my last visit to the area except for the demolition of the building next to Teelings.