Popular Cork market forced to temporarily close following legal enforcement
Businesses in The Boatyard are situated in revamped shipping containers. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
A popular market in East Cork has been forced to temporarily close following legal enforcement from Cork County Council due to a pending planning permission application.
The Boatyard in Cobh said the unforeseen development has had a profound impact on the individual small businesses, staff, and the customers “who have made The Boatyard a part of their routine”.
Owned by Cobh man Rob Coughlan, the market was relaunched in July and has experienced a “rollercoaster first year of trading”.
The Boatyard, which originally opened in 2022, hosted eight independent businesses including food vendors, a coffee dock and a tattoo studio—all of which are situated in revamped shipping containers.
“We understand the impact of this closure on the lives of our vendors, staff, and customers, and we share in the disappointment caused by this temporary setback,” they said.
In a statement, the market said it is actively engaging with Cork County Council to address the planning permission concerns and urged the council to expedite the resolution of its planning permission application.
“The Boatyard is an integral part of the community, and with your assistance, we can resume providing a valuable and cherished space for our customers and local businesses,” they said.
The Boatyard said it is committed to resolving the matter as soon as possible, “and we appreciate the patience and understanding of our customers, vendors, and the community during this challenging time”.
It comes as one of the businesses said they were given less than 24 hours to close its doors after the council informed them that the market had been closed indefinitely due to unresolved planning and zoning issues.
In a now-deleted social media post, the owners of Black Poppy Tattoo Studio said they were told all issues had been settled before they opened, claiming they were “ghosted and cut out of the loop again”.
“This is heartbreaking for us but unfortunately completely out of our control. We were never informed that these problems existed,” they said.
The Boatyard said it will continue to keep the local community updated on the progress toward re-opening.
“In the meantime, we appreciate your understanding, and we look forward to the day when we can welcome you back to The Boatyard Cobh,” the statement reads.
A spokesperson for Cork County Council said it does not comment on individual cases.
"However, Council can categorically confirm that a significant notice period is provided as standard in any enforcement activity," they said.
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