bolton square

Bolton Square, known more familiarly as "the potato market" is the traditional location of the town's weekly open air market, where on a Saturday, from early morning onwards, anything " from a needle to an anchor" may be purchased from the colourful stalls. The first charter for a weekly market "to be held on a Saturday, unless same were an injury to neighbouring markets on the same day" was granted to Drogheda (Meath) in 1317. Presumably the Saturday market was already in operation in the rival town across the river on the Louth side, hence the provision regarding possible conflict of interests.