The Saturday Market at St Nicholas’ could have to relocate to the Spanish Arch while rehabilitation works are carried out on Churchyard Street.

This week’s meeting of Galway City Councilheard that the works, which will address the poor condition of the surface of the street linking Lombard Street and Shop Street, were due to commence this month, and would be carried out in two phases — the first to be completed by late November, and the second to commence in January.

Cllr Eddie Hoare (FG) said market traders had expressed concerns that they would be moved to Spanish Arch while the works were in progress.

“With the weather [this time of year], we may as well close the market,” he said.

Senior Engineer Fiona Holland said the area where the market operated from would be closed for “seven weeks max” and there were few options beyond Spanish Arch.

The Council was working with traders’ representatives, she said, to find a short-term solution while the works were carried out.

Cllr Hoare said the carpark at St Patrick’s National School on Lombard Street was the preferred location of traders.

Ms Holland confirmed that that the Council had contacted the school but, as of Monday, they had got “no response”.

“If anything changes there, I will be happy to examine that,” added Ms Holland.

“There are two parts to the works — the first part will be completed by November 28. The next part will be done in January and February, and will be completed before the St Patrick’s Days weekend. There will be a communications plan to notify people.

“There aren’t many options,” she said of where the traders could be relocated to while works were carried out.

Pictured: The Saturday Market: set to close for up to seven weeks to allow work to be carried out on improving the street surface.