Moore Street market traders who have operated their stalls in all weathers for decades were sceptical about the council’s plans.

“They promised us 15 years ago they were going to put a roof over us. We’re still out in hail rain and snow, we have to go into restaurants or the Ilac to use the toilet, and the place is a worse kip than ever,” said Veronica Monroe, a fourth-generation fruit and vegetable seller.

Catherine Kennedy, who has been running her stall for 37 years with her sister Mary, said the council had allowed the street become run down. “Before the Ilac was built this was a totally different street, it was a big shopping street, all different food shops, now it’s all hair extensions and phone shops.”

She agrees the street needs to be redeveloped. “People come from all over the world to see Moore Street, but this is not what they expect to see. It’s derelict and the council has let it get this way.”

The Kennedys use the footpath to display their produce, because of the type of stall supplied by the council. “We all had . . . individual stalls but the council came along one day and gave us these ones that you can’t reach the customers if you stand behind them. But like everything they do, they didn’t ask us what we needed.”

Hard life

Marie Cullen trades in front of the 1916 monument building. “This building was meant to be ready by 2016 to commemorate the Rising, but it’s completely dilapidated. The council should be ashamed of themselves, the way they’ve let the street get so shabby.”

Also a fourth-generation fruit-seller, she doesn’t believe the council wants to preserve the market.

“There’s only a handful of us left and my kids aren’t going to take it on, it’s too hard a life and they’ve had an education. Every few years there’s some sort of new plan, but I think the council will be happier when we’re just gone.”