Jan 25, 2017 the horse fair is held every year in ballinasloe, the second largest town in county galway, and is regarded as one of the most important social and economic events of the towns calendar. For instance, even today everyone can come to the fair and bring the horse to sell. There are also fun fairs, street performers and numerous other events. Its history starts in the 18th century, and the fair has preserved most of its authentic traditions. The ballinasloe horse fair and festival is an event where many travellers meet their future spouse in this touching image, left, a young traveller girl poses next to her pony, while a boy winks. Oct 29, 2018 the ballinasloe horse fair tinker king. History of ballinasloe october fair ballinasloe official town. Tourism in ballinasloe ballinasloe official town website. Rich in history and tradition, the fair had its beginnings in the 1700s.
Oct 28, 2016 md sandyhill candyfloss a 3yo filly by sligo candyman winning the loose jumping at ballinasloe fair 2nd oct 2016. Ballinasloe october fair a score of irish murders more from skeffy. Find the perfect ballinasloe horse fair ireland stock photo. The annual event attracts up to visitors from all over the world, with many returning to the town of ballinasloe year after year for the festival. See more ideas about ireland, horses and ireland pictures. It is europes oldest and largest horse fair, dating back to the 18th century. A history of the famous ballinasloe october fair and festival. Traditionally, this was the day in the fair with the highest attendance from local rural residents. The book looks at the history of horse fairs, trading and horse breeding reaching back into the ancient past to the high kings and tara in 1200 bc. Theres a saying about the ballinasloe fair, if youre looking for a horse, pony or donkey and if you cant find it at ballinasloe, there. Ballinasloe attracts 80k for one of europes oldest annual horse fairs. Combine horse riding in thebeautiful irish countryside with a trip to this horse fair. Ballinasloe is a town in the easternmost part of county galway in ireland.
It is one of the largest towns in county galway with a population of approximately 7,200 people, which includes ballinasloe urban and ballinasloe rural. The author also provides an account of the trading and events that take place at the fair today. Rich in history and tradition, the fair had its beginnings in the 1700s when it was mostly an agricultural sale of sheep and cattle. The fair is held over the last eight days of october. The income of the seller doesnt matter at all, because its the event for everyone. Ballinasloe fair is one of the oldest events in ireland and has been held each october for longer than anyone knows. Ballinasloe ireland ballinasloe galway ballinasloe county. Ballinasloe is steeped in history, and has been lauded for the architectural character of its fine streetscapes. Young bellew, unfortunately, accompanied his father to this celebrated meeting, well known as the october fair. We attend this event to capture various events requested by our followers. Ballinasloe trip planner plan your ballinasloe trip. While now predominantly associated with the horse, in its heyday the october fair was an agricultural event of much greater significance, serving as a market for the sale of cattle and sheep by the farmers of the west to their counterparts in the east of ireland.
A section of the book deals with travellers and the role they played and continue to have in fairs. In spite of the cold weather, horse trading is in full swing at the ballinasloe horse fair in county galway. Barriers and parking restrictions are in place and the fair is on the ground already. The ballinasloe horse fair is one of europes oldest and largest horse fairs, dating back to the 18th century. Today, ballinasloe is a prosperous and expanding town on the main galway dublin road and is the main commercial and industrial centre for east galway. Galway riding holidays in ireland equitrekking travel. In recent years there had been talk of police shutting it down after trouble at the event but it was in full swing this last week. Ballinasloe beal atha na sluaigheadh the town of the ford of the hostings, is an ancient town which increased in importance when turlough oconnor, king of connacht, fortified dun leodha dunlo at the beginning of the 12th century. History of ballinasloe october fair ballinasloe official. This annual event attracts up to 80,000 visitors from all over the world. Get premium, high resolution news photos at getty images. Thousands attend ballinasloe horse fair the irish times. On friday, october 10th, 1873, an advertisement in the irish times detailed a great annual sale as part of ballinasloe horse fair week of weightcarrying hunters, march carriage horses.
When the grand canal was built and reached ballinasloe, and with the arrival of trains in ireland, livestock could be transported out of connacht easily and at any time of the year. The haggling remains unchanged from when the fair first began in the early 1700s. Last year a couple of online papers slated the photographs and some even accused me of supporting animal cruelty. The photographic draw of both characters and animals is magnetic. Gullanes hotel, located in the thriving town centre of ballinasloe, has been recently refurbished, restoring the 1820s building with 4star standard comforts. In the early 1900s it evolved into a fair that sold only horses. Ballinasloe october fair galway travel inspires experiences. The irish society for protection of animals was on scene, as were gardai.
The great fair ballinasloe mark hodstock horse books. Nov 10, 2019 the ballinasloe horse fairs history dates back to the 1700s. Abandoned cadillac deville will it run after 20 years and drive home. Amazon photos unlimited photo storage free with prime. The ballinasloe horse fair is a fixture in the lives of the people of south east galway. This planned layout of the town in the 19th century consisting of wide streets, a market square, fair green, show grounds and town hall can be attributed to william trench, who was conferred with the earldom of clancarty at this time. Pipe smoking dogs, and other memories from past ballinasloe.
Ballinasloe horse fair is the oldest horse fair in europe and dates back to the 18th century. Go west for a horse ballinasloe horse fair is held annually in ballinasloe, the second largest town in county galway, in the western part of ireland. The faces and chases at irelands oldest horse fair. The ballinasloe agricultural horse show is the oldest show in ireland, if not in europe, it has run continually since the early eighteen hundreds and is older than the rds in. It is a meeting point for members of the irish traveller community. Of ireland flashbak dublin city, dublin ireland, camera photography, historical. Dating back to the 18th century, the ballinasloe horse fair is one of the oldest and largest in europe.
The horse fair is about much more than just horses with everything from fortune tellers to fairground rides from tofts amusements, who have been bringing their show to ballinasloe for over 100 years. The book looks at the history of horse fairs, trading and horse. But noel also focuses on the modern fair with hundreds of photographs included. Ballinasloe horse fair is one of europes oldest and largest horse fairs, dating back to the 18th century. The annual event attracts up to visitors from all over the world, with many returning to the. Ballinasloe horse fair, 1957 for many years, ballinasloe was a convenient central location for the sheep, cattle and horse market. The horse fair is held every year in ballinasloe, the second largest town in county galway, and is regarded as one of the most important social and economic events of the towns calendar. The annual ballinasloe horse fair, one of the most important social and. Independent of the unusually severe and unseasonable weather, about 76,000 sheep,300 horned cattle, besides a great number of horses, independent of the regular traffic, have passed over this line of road, going and returning from the ballinasloe fair, which it is needless to say tended greatly to render the roads more difficult for the. Ballinasloe horse fair 2017 short videoit was a magnificent daycouldnt believe all the beautiful horses. Thousands attend ballinasloe horse fair sun shone on europes oldest horse fair, but sulky races banned for safety reasons mon, oct 5, 2015, 01. General view of the annual ballinasloe horse fair on october 4, 2015 in galway, ireland.
Ballinasloe horse fair ballinasloe forum tripadvisor. It is one of europes oldest and largest horse fairs, dating back to the 18th century. Need help we all like the idea of saving a bit of cash, so when we found out how many good quality used products are out there we just had to let you know. General view of the annual ballinasloe horse fair on. Ballinasloe ww1 heritage group are currently publishing a book with information of those who served in ww1 from ballinasloe and surrounding areas. Ballinasloe also lives up to its equestrian heritage and offers a choice of horse and ponyriding facilities, stables and regular show jumping features which normally take place in the show grounds or on the fair green. Nov 23, 2017 traveller family at ballinasloe horse fair 6th october 1952. Welcome to the official facebook page of the oldest and biggest horse fair in europe.
Ballinasloe town is world famous for the annual ballinasloe october fair, it is one of europes oldest horse fairs dating back to the 18th century. Kindle direct publishing indie digital publishing made easy prime now free 2hour delivery on everyday items. The fair is a meeting point of the irish travellers, an itinerant community with strong traditions. The fair draws massive crowds for a week of competition alongside dealing in horses and other livestock. It is also the main angling centre on the river suck, which is renowned for its pike, bream, and perch fishing in its more sluggish. The ballinasloe horse fairs history dates back to the 1700s.
They are seeking any relevant information for inclusion in the book, which will be launched in ballinasloe library on november 6th. The true date of the first fair is not known, but the earliest reference gives a date of may 17th 1757, though the fair was probably taking place long before this. Jan 11, 2017 the book looks at the history of horse fairs, trading and horse breeding reaching back into the ancient past to the high kings and tara in 1200 bc. The ballinasloe agricultural horse show is the oldest show in ireland, if not in europe, it has run continually since the early eighteen hundreds and is older than the rds in dublin. The ballinasloe horse fair is thought to be the oldest in europe, always beginning on the saturday before the first tuesday in october. The equestrian days are saturday, sunday and monday. While now predominantly associated with the horse, in its heyday the october fair was an. The ballinasloe horse fair s history dates back to the 1700s. In october 2017, alan woods travelled to the ballinasloe horse fair also. Recently renewed, it immediately has become one of the most visited tourist attractions in ireland.
Md sandyhill candyfloss a 3yo filly by sligo candyman winning the loose jumping at ballinasloe fair 2nd oct 2016. The ballinasloe horse fair is a horse fair which is held annually at ballinasloe, the second largest town in county galway, in the western part of ireland. Pony girl, irish traveller, ballinasloe, galway, ireland. The excitement of the ballinasloe fair gripped noel mullins every year when he. Ballinasloe has also traditionally proved popular with anglers, particularly those interested in coarse angling.
Oct 08, 2017 ballinasloe horse fair is one of europes oldest and largest horse fairs, dating back to the 18th century. Ballinasloe town burkes east galwayburkes east galway. The annual ballinasloe horse fair, one of the most important social and economic events in the irish travelling community got underway in county galway, ireland today. An illustrated history of the october fair at ballinasloe in county galway, ireland. May 30, 2018 a personal view of 200 years of history tag. The ballinasloe october fair is one of the oldest fairs in ireland, at one stage renowned as the largest and greatest in all of europe. A horse fair is normally an annual fair where people buy and sell horses in the united kingdom there are many fairs which are traditionally attended by romani people and travellers who converge at the fairs to buy and sell horses, meet with friends and relations and to celebrate their music, history and folklore many horse fairs are centuries old such as appleby horse fair and the great. Rumble entertainment life europes oldest and largest horse fairs, dating back to the 18th century. Today the fair is held alongside a festival that attracts up to 80,000 visitors. Oct 03, 2017 ballinasloe horse fair 2017 short videoit was a magnificent daycouldnt believe all the beautiful horses. The horse fair and show starts on saturday 3rd october for 8 days. An annual event since the 1700s, ballinasloe horse fair is one of europes oldest horse fairs. This annual event attracts up to 100,000 visitors from all over the world, with many returning to the town year after year. Great fair horse dealing at ballinasloe holdstock mark.
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