# List of market houses in the Republic of Ireland

Market houses (sometimes earlier called tholsels) are a notable feature of many Irish towns with varying styles of architecture, size and ornamentation. They are usually located at the centre of the town at which at one stage a market was held. Originally there were one, three, four or even five or more bays on the ground floor which formed a covered arcade to protect traders from the elements and allow access for carts, animals and produce. An upper floor was often used as a court house or ballroom while the cellar or basement was often used as a local gaol. Ornamentation consisted of a cupola, a clock or sometimes a dome or tower. Today most of the market houses in Ireland have been put to use as cultural venues, business premises, town halls or have been left derelict pending development. Many are listed as protected structures while very few have been demolished in recent times due to a newfound architectural, historical and social appreciation.

## Table of market house locations

| Town | County | Date built | Description | Image and/or link |
| Abbeyleix | Laois | 1836 | 5 bay, two-storey building until 2005 used as a fire station and library. Renovated as a state of the art library/exhibition centre in the 2000s by de Blacam and Meagher Architects. | |
| Ardara | Donegal | c. 1840 | Heritage centre | |
| Arvagh | Cavan | 1837 | Library and council offices | |
| Athboy | Meath | Pre-1837 | Bridal shop | |
| Athlone | Westmeath | 1703 | Tholsel demolished 1830 | |
| Athy | Kildare | 1745 | Heritage centre and library (formerly Athy Town Hall and fire station) | |
| Aughrim | Wicklow | c. 1860 | Restaurant | |
| Bailieborough | Cavan | 1818 | Library (previously co-op store and jam factory) | |
| Balbriggan | Dublin | 1811 | Furniture store – paid for partly by subscription and partly by the Hamilton family | |
| Ballaghadereen | Roscommon | Pre-1837 | | |
| Ballinagh | Cavan | 1821 | Disused | |
| Ballinamore | Leitrim | – | Library | |
| Ballinasloe | Galway | 1832 | – | |
| Ballinrobe | Mayo | 1752 | 5 bay with cupola. District Court House | |
| Ballitore | Kildare | c. 1780, renovated c. 1840 | In ruins | |
| Ballybay | Monaghan | 1848 | For sale | |
| Ballybofey | Donegal | c. 1820 | Post office and training centre | |
| Ballyconnell | Cavan | c. 1838 | Disused | |
| Ballyhaise | Cavan | c. 1740 | – | |
| Ballyjamesduff | Cavan | 1813 | Restaurant and shop | |
| Ballymahon | Longford | 1819 | Sponsored by the Shuldham family. Renovated into new library, one stop shop and community hall 2011 | |
| Ballymote | Sligo | c. 1870 | South Co. Sligo community mental health service of the Health Service Executive | |
| Bandon | Cork | 1817 | The Shambles, built on the site of an earlier North Market House by the Duke of Devonshire | |
| Bantry | Cork | – | Offices | |
| Belturbet | Cavan | c. 1800 | Demolished 1927 and replaced with current town hall. Also known as The Workingmen's Hall. | |
| Birr | Offaly | 1845 | Formerly a church hall, now a market. Original is shown on Michael Richards map of Birr in 1691. | |
| Blacklion | Cavan | – | Tourist information centre | |
| Blessington | Wicklow | c. 1820 | Credit union | |
| Borris-in-Ossory | Laois | 1880 | Storehouse | |
| Boyle | Roscommon | 1826 | The Shambles – still in use by various retailers. An older building at market square was demolished in the 1800s. | |
| Bray | Wicklow | Original demolished in 1830s. Rebuilt 1881–1883. | Previously Bray Town Hall, now McDonald's fast food outlet | |
| Buttevant | Cork | 18th century | Community centre (formerly court house), community hall | |
| Cahir | Tipperary | c. 1770 | Library and court house | |
| Cahirciveen | Kerry | 19th century ? | Shops and filling station | |
| Callan | Kilkenny | c. 1825 | Town hall | |
| Cappoquin | Waterford | – | Shop | |
| Carrick-on-Shannon | Leitrim | 1830 | formerly Carrick-on-Shannon Courthouse, now a Design and craft centre | |
| Carrickmacross | Monaghan | 1770s | Previously County Fire Service and County Library Service now Lace Gallery Tourist Office and Gift Shop | |
| Cashel | Tipperary | 1866 | Formerly town hall, now tourist information centre | |
| Castleblayney | Monaghan | 1826 | Derelict with restoration planned | |
| Castlecomer | Kilkenny | c. 1809 | Court house | |
| Castleisland | Kerry | c. 1745 | Department store | |
| Castlemartyr | Cork | – | Car showroom | |
| Castlepollard | Westmeath | c. 1815, burned c. 1921, rebuilt c. 1926 | Town hall, fire station | |
| Castlerea | Roscommon | c. 1825 | Shop | |
| Cavan | Cavan | ? | Constructed by Lord Farnham. Demolished in 1969 along with the public toilets to make way for new post office building. | |
| Celbridge | Kildare | 17th century | School in 1709, later incorporated in mill complex | |
| Charleville | Cork | 1769 | Shops | |
| Churchtown | Cork | 1845 | Restored in 2000 as offices and residential | |
| Clonakilty | Cork | 1642 | Chinese restaurant | History of Clonakilty Market House |
| Clonbur | Galway | – | 1 bay small square market house | |
| Clones | Monaghan | 1844 | Continues to be known as Clones Market House; currently used for the delivery of local services. | |
| Clonmany | Donegal | c. 1840 | Derelict, undergoing restoration | |
| Clonmel | Tipperary | 1673 | Formerly a courthouse known as the Main Guard, later a public house; substantially restored; now houses art exhibitions, with scale models of historic Clonmel | |
| Clonmel | Tipperary | 1817 | Clonmel Butter Market | |
| Clonmellon | Westmeath | 1835 | Market | |
| Cobh | Cork | 1851 | Public Library, formerly Cobh Town Hall and courthouse | |
| Collinstown | Westmeath | 1806 | Demolished in 1950s, for road straightening. Relocation programmed 2010 T.B.C. | |
| Collon | Louth | 1820 | Court house |
| Collooney | Sligo | ? | Set fire to and destroyed by the IRA during the civil war | |
| Cootehill | Cavan | 1806 | Demolished | |
| Cork | Cork | 1864 | Cork Butter Market – see Cork Butter Museum | |
| Cork | Cork | 1843 | Originally Cork Corn Exchange, destroyed in a fire by the Black and Tans in December 1920, later rebuilt becoming the modern City Hall, Cork today | |
| Cork | Cork | 1739, reconstructed 1843 | Located on Corn Market. Eleven bay double height former corn market. Still in use as multiple retail outlets and market as well as public house. | |
| Cork | Cork | 1860 | Officially named the Central Markets, they house the more famous English Market. | |
| Corofin | Clare | c. 1700, rebuilt incorporating part of old building 1876. Described in 1837 as being an old building supported on slanting buttresses and almost disused as the corn was chiefly sent to Ennis. | Commercial | |
| Delvin | Westmeath | c. 1850 | Youth club and credit union | |
| Donegal | Donegal | c. 1850 | – | |
| Drogheda | Louth | c. 1796 | The Corn Exchange, now council offices | |
| Drogheda | Louth | 1769 | Mayoralty house, now commercial premises on North Quay | |
| Drogheda | Louth | 1770 | Formerly The Tholsel, now council offices | |
| Drumkeeran | Leitrim | c. 1850 | Retail premises | |
| Dublin 2 | Dublin | 1816 | Formerly, the Corn Exchange, Burgh Quay. The façade of the building still stands as of December 2022. | |
| Dublin 7 | Dublin | 1728 | Linen Hall, Yarnhall Street – went into terminal decline following the opening of the Belfast Linen Hall in 1783. The build was later used as a barracks and was finally destroyed by a fire during the 1916 rebellion. See Linenhall, Dublin. | |
| Dublin 7 | Dublin | 1892 | Market hall – Dublin Corporation Wholesale Markets. Closed pending refurbishment 2020. | |
| Dublin 7 | Dublin | 1892 | Market hall – Dublin fish market, closed 2005 and demolished for new markets surface carpark | |
| Dublin 8 | Dublin | 1727 | Market Hall – Corn Market House on Thomas Street. (closed c. 1800) Unknown date of demolition. | |
| Dublin 8 | Dublin | 1902 | Market hall – see Iveagh Markets. Closed since the mid-1990s due to financing issues and ongoing litigation. | |
| Dublin 8 | Dublin | 1682–1806 | The Tholsel, Dublin – once had a tower with cupola and Ireland's first public clock | |
| Dundalk | Louth | 1751 | 7 bay building demolished in 1968 | |
| Dunfanaghy | Donegal | 1845 | Creche | |
| Dungarvan | Waterford | 1690 | Arts Centre (formerly a museum) | |
| Dunlavin | Wicklow | 1743 ? | Library, courthouse and art gallery during the annual Dunlavin Arts Festival. Designed by architect Richard Cassels. | |
| Dunleer | Louth | 1820s | Arts, classes, events and civic centre | |
| Edenderry | Offaly | 1826 | Formerly ballroom and museum, later a court house now a business centre. | |
| Edgeworthstown | Longford | – | Supermarket | |
| Enniscorthy | Wexford | c.1795 | Previously a school and a Methodist chapel and later the Urban Council Offices | |
| Ennistymon | Clare | – | Restaurant | |
| Eyrecourt | Galway | 17th century | Derelict | |
| Fermoy | Cork | 1790 | Shops | |
| Fethard | Tipperary | 1610 | Original tholsel, town hall | |
| Finnea | Westmeath | c. 1850 | Private house | |
| Frenchpark | Roscommon | c. 1840 | Derelict | |
| Galway | Galway | c. 1830 | – | |
| Galway | Galway | 1639–1822 | Galway Tholsel. 6 bay building with cupola on shop street. | |
| Glenties | Donegal | c. 1840 | Community centre | |
| Gorey | Wexford | 1709 | Local government administration and tourist information centre | |
| Graiguenamanagh | Kilkenny | – | Shop | |
| Granard | Longford | c. 1785 | Courthouse and branch library; part still used for farmers' market. Built under the patronage of the McCartney family. | History of Granard Market House History with Photograph |
| Innishannon | Cork | – | Unused and in disrepair (slates missing) | |
| Kanturk | Cork | c. 1657 | Replaced in 1747 | |
| Kanturk | Cork | 1747 | (2nd market house) Replaced in 1839 | |
| Kanturk | Cork | 1839 | (3rd market house) Credit union | |
| Keadue | Roscommon | c. 1830 | – | |
| Kells | Meath | c. 1800 | Commercial outbuilding | |
| Keenagh | Longford | c. 1820 | – | |
| Kenmare | Kerry | c. 1790 | Auctioneer | |
| Kilbeggan | Westmeath | 1828 | Unoccupied | |
| Kilcock | Kildare | c. 1840 | – | |
| Kildare | Kildare | 19th century | Bus station, public toilets, museum | |
| Kilfinane | Limerick | 1760 | Ruins, only arches and side walls remain | |
| Kilkenny | Kilkenny | 1761 | Also known as The Tholsel | |
| Killarney | Kerry | Pre-1837 | Former meat market, then linen market with upstairs used as ballroom | |
| Killucan | Westmeath | c. 1838 | – | |
| Kilrush | Clare | – | Town hall | |
| Killeshandra | Cavan | c. 1792 | Demolished late 1960s, present site of community resource centre. The original MH commemoration stone is built into the wall of a shop further up the street. | History of Killeshandra |
| Kiltyclogher | Leitrim | 1831 | Guest house, pre-school | |
| Kilworth | Cork | c. 1790 | In good condition | |
| Kingscourt | Cavan | ? | Demolished | |
| Kinsale | Cork | c. 1600 | Regional museum (formerly court house) | |
| Limerick | Limerick | 1843 | Limerick Potato Market | |
| Limerick | Limerick | 1843 | The Milk Market | |
| Limerick | Limerick | 1673, rebuilt 1702, rebuilt 1778 | Limerick Tholsel. Later a school; 7 Tuscan columns can still be seen in St Mary's graveyard wall. | |
| Kinsale | Cork | c. 1770 | Former milk market – now restaurant | |
| Lismore | Waterford | 1799 | Court house and market house at ground floor (sessions house) | |
| Listowel | Kerry | Post-1853 | – | |
| Longford | Longford | 1710 or earlier | Constructed by the Aungier family. Now in a derelict state located in the Seán Connolly barracks. | |
| Louisburgh | Mayo | ? | Staunton's pharmacy | |
| Macroom | Cork | 19th century ? | Council offices | |
| Mallow, County Cork | Cork | 1840 | 2 retail units, original was 4 bay 2 storey replacing an earlier market house c. 1800, the remains of which can be seen in the town | |
| Manorhamilton | Leitrim | 1834 | Shop, retail outlet | |
| Midleton | Cork | 19th century | Library and court house (formerly town hall) | |
| Milltown Malbay | Clare | 19th century | Pub and restaurant | |
| Mitchelstown | Cork | 1823 | Shop | |
| Monaghan | Monaghan | 1792 | Arts cenue – see Market House, Monaghan | |
| Monasterevin | Kildare | c. 1830 | – | |
| Mountrath | Laois | c. 1730 | – | |
| Mountcharles | Donegal | c. 1840 | Carved stone on building notes original from 1676 | |
| Mountshannon | Clare | c. 1740 | – | |
| Moville | Donegal | c. 1860 | – | |
| Mullingar | Westmeath | 1730, rebuilt in current form 1867 | Tourist information centre | |
| Naas | Kildare | 1813 | Private house | |
| Navan | Meath | 1632, demolished c. 1800 | Tholsel court with stone inscription – "Edmund Manninge was overseer of this work in the year of Our Lord 1632. On whose soul the Lord have mercy" | |
| Nenagh | Tipperary | 1812 | Adult education centre for North Tipperary Vocational Education Committee and restaurant/take away (part) | |
| Newbliss | Monaghan | 1830 | – | |
| Newcastle West | Limerick | 1873 | – | |
| Newmarket | Cork | 1810 | Community use | |
| Newtownmountkennedy | Wicklow | Pre-1798 | Used as a school in 1837 | |
| New Ross | Wexford | 1749, rebuilt 1806–1810 | Tholsel, court house, town hall from 1840 | |
| Oldcastle | Meath | 1742 | Originally 3 bay and 3 storeys high, now much altered 2 storey commercial premises | |
| Pettigo | Donegal | 1836 | – | – |
| Piltown | Kilkenny | 1830s | – | Photograph of Piltown Market House |
| Portarlington | Laois | c. 1800 | Referred to as a tholsel by Samuel Lewis. Now petrol station and garage. | |
| Portlaoise | Laois | ? | | |
| Rockcorry | Monaghan | 1805 | Filling station | |
| Roscommon | Roscommon | 1762 et seq. | An earlier market house collapsed 2 March 1719 when the courtroom above was overcrowded with 200 prisoners when the court was in session. The replacement building was built by John Ensor, architect 1762. Subsequently served as RC church. The Bank of Ireland branch. | |
| Roscrea | Tipperary | 1886 replacing earlier larger Market House | Demolished in the 1920s | |
| Scarriff | Clare | 1855 | Weigh house | |
| Shercock | Cavan | 1825 | Shops | |
| Sixmilebridge | Clare | Pre-1831 | – | – |
| Stradbally | Laois | 1899 | Market | |
| Strokestown | Roscommon | c. 1830 | Shop, retail outlet | |
| Tallow | Waterford | N/A | Proposed but not executed | |
| Templemore | Tipperary | 1816 | Now used as Templemore Town Hall | |
| Thurles | Tipperary | N/A – never constructed | | |
| Timoleague | Cork | 1700, rebuilt ? | Vacant | |
| Tinahely | Wicklow | c. 1820 | Branch library | |
| Tralee | Kerry | 1847 | Chinese restaurant | |
| Trim | Meath | c. 1850 | Town hall | |
| Tulla | Clare | c. 1833 | Branch library | |
| Tullamore | Offaly | 1789 | Building society | |
| Slane | Meath | 1800 | – | |
| Virginia | Cavan | c. 1815 | Courthouse and county council offices | |
| Waterford | Waterford | ? | Butter market located on the quay. Now demolished. | |
| Westport | Mayo | 1767 | Storehouse | |
| Wexford | Wexford | 1776 | Previously corn market house and now Wexford Arts Centre (formerly town hall) | |
| Youghal | Cork | – | Heritage centre | |