John and Sally McKenna, the people behind the renowned Bridgestone Irish Food Guide were so impressed with Limerick’s Milk Market that they devote three pages to it in the 2004 edition of the food connoisseur’s ‘bible’.
They name Limerick City Milk Market as a haven for those with an appreciation of good quality food. The couple cited the overall development of the market over the last number of years as having created "a wonderfully atmospheric destination to shop for good things".

They went on to say "its development over the last decade from down-at-heel venue to swish uber-bling location, is a precise echo of the fate of the city itself during the last ten years. The smarter it has become the better it has become...."

The Milk Market was originally built in 1830, and was renovated and reconstructed in 1989/90. Originally the market sold mostly homegrown produce including vegetables, corn and milk (hence the name). It is still a thriving Saturday country market selling vegetables, homemade butter, cheese, bread, flowers and homemade beauty products. During the week,,it’s home to food shops, cafés and various permanent shops selling books and clothes and bric a brac .

Murray O’Laoire received a commendation in the RIAI Silver Medal for Conservation Awards 1987-1992 for its conservation work on the transformation of the then dilapidated Milk Market.