In Phibsboro, what will the future hold for a thriving flea market?

Every second Sunday of the month, up to 100 stalls set up in a plain concrete car park in Phibsboro with old magazines, pastries, handmade art and hip-hop records on offer.

Le Zeitgeist Bohemia Flea Market, since it started in February 2022, has moved from location to location, in search of somewhere permanent.

Now, with the plans – albeit a few years off – to renovate neighbouring Dalymount Park, what’s next for it?

Richie Harte and Delphine Velut, founders of Le Zeitgeist Bohemia Flea Market, said by email that they love organising the monthly market.

“We have worked hard to create a collective culture of soundness, we love our regular traders, always excited to meet new ones and in return proud to witness how punters appreciate this eclectic flea market,” they said.

The future of the venue is unclear, they said. “This is out of our hands.” But, “That said, the show must go on and Le Zeitgeist will carry on!” said Harte and Velut, in the email.

A healthy demand

While some other markets in the city have withered in recent times – the Friday market in Phibsboro lasted for seven months in 2022, and the Saturday market in Temple Bar Square is hosting fewer stalls – the Le Zeitgeist Bohemia Flea Market has been going strong.

The market began over two years ago in Stoneybatter with only nine people, says Peter Rochford in April 2024, who has been a stallholder involved since the beginning.

It’s grown to 80 to 100 stalls now, and there’s a waiting list, he says.

“It was a great move here from where we were before because we were a bit limited where we were,” says Rochford, who sells toys and records. “This is the best market in Dublin without a shadow of a doubt at this moment now.”

It has taken place each month at Kelly’s Yard, next to Dalymount,  for just over a year now, said Rochford.

The market attracts customers from far afield. Katie Donagh had travelled 45 minutes from Drogheda, she said. She found out about the flea from a RTÉ news article on best markets to visit in Dublin.

Connor McLoughlin, whose girlfriend heard about it through the Bohemia Flea Market’s DJ, had come from Killiney.

He would likely travel further even if he had to, he said. “Probably because it’s fairly unique in what it’s doing, so it’s interesting.”

It’s almost a bit too crowded, he says, “but, you know, that’s a good thing”.

Amy Griffin, another stallholder and owner of And Again, a vintage clothing brand, said she joined the market in February last year.

Of the many markets she sells at, this is by far the best, she says. “It is actually unmatched, it is unreal, people travel from miles but everyone is always in such a good mood.”

Said Griffin: “The beauty of this place is that it is indoors and outdoors.”

“The place is just expanding and everyone in Dublin, in the country, is just getting to know about it so I just think it’s going to get bigger and bigger,” she says.

The future

In February, Dublin city councillors approved plans to redevelop Dalymount Park. One of the routes into the stadium would be through Kelly’s Yard, the plans show.

But, despite the threat to the flea’s current location, the development would also create new community and cultural spaces in Phibsboro.

The new-look stadium would have much larger capacity, and a reoriented pitch.

It includes a public thoroughfare along the eastern boundary, connecting North Circular Road and Connaught Street, which would include various eateries and a new public plaza and a community facility with an area of 585 sqm over two floors to include a multi-functional community room and a community gym, according to planning documents.

Dublin City Council has said in a statement that it hopes to have the development built in time for the kick-off of the 2027 season, but also that this depends on central government funding.

Bohemians FC hasn’t yet responded to queries as to what future it foresees for the market.

Cieran Perry, who is an independent councillor and a Dalymount regular, said he imagines all available space will be used during construction so it is unlikely the market will continue during the development.

“There will be community space in the final design for the redevelopment and I’m assuming the local community will be central in deciding what events take place in that space,” he said.

Said Perry: “I don’t know whether the space would be suitable for the market and I’m sure there will be a lot of interest in running various community events in that space.”