Mayor Emer Costello

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Cllr EMER COSTELLO OPENS EXHIBITION OF WATERCOLOUR PAINTINGS IN FRUIT & VEGETABLE MARKET.

Issued : Sunday 17 October, 2004

An exhibition of floral watercolour paintings by Mel Cameron was launched today at the Duffy’s Florist in the Fruit and Vegetable Market,

Cllr Emer Costello, deputising for the Lord Mayor, opened the Exhibition. Cllr Costello said that as Chairperson of HARP (Historic Area Rejuvenation Programme) she was delighted to have the opportunity to encourage this type of cultural activity in the markets area which is fast becoming a major cultural focus for the City. Mel Cameron is a talented painter with a sensual eye. The watercolour paintings on display fitted naturally into the environment of the Flower Stalls in the Markets.

Cllr Costello noted that the Fruit and Vegetable Market, housed in the magnificent Victorian building and has served as the City’s main market since 1892. The market building is one of the finest expressions of the Late Victorian approach to large open-plan buildings. The opening of the market was the realisation of centuries of effort to accommodate and give architectural expression to the process of urban food market trading. Its use as a market continues uninterrupted to this day. In the 1990’s the building started to show signs of structural damage. Dublin City Council through the HARP programme invested over €1 million to ensure the restoration of the building.
The revival of the Markets area is also being addressed through the Markets Framework Development Plan. This plan aims to create a vibrant retail food market, restaurant and leisure market set in the Victorian heritage market and linking it to Smithfield and Henry Street.
“Exhibitions such as the one launched by Mel here today will encourage more and more people to visit the Markets and to appreciate the historic context of the area” concluded Cllr Costello

For further information on Mel Cameron’s watercolours contat: 087 288 7494

ENDS