From politics to the Bazaar

In the build-up to the General Election on February 25 Ann Cronin was concentrating on balancing the ballot. These days the now former election candidate is focusing on creating opportunity for small-scale businesses to create and sell their wares.

The Market Bazaar will open in the Market, Ennis on Friday, May 13. Operating from Cronin’s yard in the Market, it will provide space for up to 24 people to operate their business from a stall.
“It’s about getting to all of the people, who are around Clare making and manufacturing, cottage industries, craft workers and artists. The people who haven’t changed what they do but with the change in economic circumstances can no longer afford to sell to shops and then lose profit. So they get to sell direct,” Ms Cronin explained.
“But it’s more than selling. It’s displaying and having something where people can come and say ‘do you know what, this is what’s great about this county. Look at this guy here making uilleann pipes.’ There’s also a fella out in Miltown Malbay who made the puppets for the Lion King opera in London. He makes these huge interactive puppets. There’s so many people doing different things so giving them a space where they can demonstrate is what I want to do,” she added.
Ms Cronin envisages that The Market Bazaar will cater for virtually any small business from baking to making súgán chairs.
“Students from the Limerick College of Art and people who are qualified in art and design are going to come out. One day it might be somebody making handbags. Another day a milliner, fine arts or ceramics. The idea is that there is always some type of art or creativity going on there,” she said.
With the cost factor low for daily rental of a stall, initially the Market Bazaar will open two days per week but that could change depending upon the success of the venture.
“I’ll worry about the insurance and stuff like that. People might decide that they are going to come back every week or that they mightn’t come back for a month. That’s up to them. I should break even by September and after that I can look at putting a roof on it. I’m trying to get a social solution to the social problem that is currently there. You have the farmers’ market, which is working well but I want to have something that is even more expansive than that,” Ms Cronin stated.
Already a number of people who owned businesses in Ennis but had to close, have contacted her with a view to renting a stall or manufacturing their product on site.
“I’ve three people coming in from businesses that have closed down in Ennis because they couldn’t afford rents. They’re going to come in and have a stand so they continue to be able to trade and benefit from going out working and interacting with people. I’m not interested in making money from this. I want to make my town out of this. I want people in Ennis interacting with each other,” Ms Cronin maintained. She will also look after advertising costs.
Ms Cronin hopes that the Fleadh in Ennis on the weekend of May 21 will attract plenty of business for The Market Bazaar, which will open from 10am to 6pm.
As for ever standing for election again, that’s unlikely.
“I don’t think so,” Ms Cronin replied. “You need a party or you need a social love from some kind of culturally significant background. I’m not going to start playing camogie. I’m not going to go to funerals either. I think it’s the most disgusting thing on earth that somebody could go a funeral for their own personal gain.”
More information on The Market Bazaar is available on Facebook or Ms Cronin can be contacted on 086 8422362.