The Poorhouse Arch was both a gateway to an off Main Street stalls village and a source of shelter during Castleisland’s annual November 1st Horse Fair on Saturday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Model Spectators: Tess Wrenn (left) and Eileen Doran surveying the street from the window of Hannon’s Ladies Wear during Castleisland’s annual November 1st Horse Fair on Saturday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Tom Bradley, Arabella, Ballymacelligott (centre) pictured with his son, Tom and Con Barrett, Tralee outside Kearney’s Bar during Castleisland’s annual November 1st Horse Fair on Saturday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Tommy Hayes pictured with his daughter, Clionadh in her element among the horses at Castleisland’s annual November 1st Horse Fair on Saturday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
John Joe O’Reilly, Kilgarvan pictured on arrival at Castleisland’s annual November 1st Horse Fair on Saturday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
There was a huge increase in the level of fine animals at this year’s annual November 1st Horse Fair in Castleisland on Saturday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Stalling for Shelter: Noreen Sheehy from Duagh pictured with her children, Brendan and Molly sheltering in a clothing stall at Castleisland’s annual November 1st Horse Fair on Saturday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Matthew McMahon, Listowel (left) pictured with: Tracy Sheehy and her dad, Christy from Duagh at Castleisland’s annual November 1st Horse Fair on Saturday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
The Black Banks Brigade: Celebrating life itself and the fair day atmosphere in Kearney’s Bar, Castleisland on Saturday were: Katie Cronin, MIkey O’Connor, Mike O’Callaghan and Den Joe O’Connor from Brosna. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Jason Rogers, Tralee going off for a gallop during Castleisland’s annual November 1st Horse Fair on Saturday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Closed: Sheila Prendiville’s Bar and Grocery missing its first horse fair on Saturday since it was established in the late 1700s. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Dick O’Brien, Lombardstown, Mallow (left) pictured with Eddie Dore, Abbeyfeale and Niall Sheehan, Millstreet in Kearney’s Bar during Castleisland’s annual November 1st Horse Fair on Saturday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Mike Cronin, Gneeveguilla (left) pictured with John and Pauline Sheehy, Ballyhar at Castleisland’s annual November 1st Horse Fair on Saturday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Richie Curtin, Knocknagoshel heard the day was brightening a bit as he took shelter in Kearney’s Bar at Castleisland’s annual November 1st Horse Fair on Saturday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
John Bosco McMahon, Ballybunion (left) pictured with Bernie O’Connell, Lixnaw and Jay Trant, Tralee at Castleisland’s annual November 1st Horse Fair on Saturday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Scartaglin sisters from left: Kayla, Chloe and Loren O’Connor braving the rain at the annual November 1st Castleisland Horse Fair on Saturday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
All trussed up and no where to go: A trio of donkeys waiting for a bidder at Castleisland’s annual November 1st Horse Fair on Saturday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Ryan Murphy from North Tipperary pictured with his much admired Piebald and ‘Four Wheeler’ at Castleisland’s annual November 1st Horse Fair on Saturday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
John Paul, Fitzgerald, Knocknagoshel (left) and James O’Connor, Scartaglin pictured at Castleisland’s annual November 1st Horse Fair on Saturday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
A four-horned Ram was the focus of attention for Tom Bradley and his father, Tom from Ballymacelligott and Billy Dowling and Terence O’Connor from Castleisland during Castleisland’s annual November 1st Horse Fair on Saturday. ©Photograph: John Reidy
If there was ever a day made to scatter a crowd it was Saturday. If there was ever a day made to gather a crowd it was Saturday. And it was all about water.
We were all talking about it, ducking from it or marching for our rights to it.
It was the day of the much anticipated horse fair in Castleisland and locals hoped against hope that we’d get a repeat of last year. Huge crowds turned out here.
It was the day of the second march against water charges in Tralee in the space of a week and an estimated crowd of 2,500 turned out there.
On the fair day here, it feels much easier now to dwell on the memories of that beautiful day this time last year than to deal with the colour-drained day which ebbed away long before its time.
Friday night’s forecast put the first bad hand on it all. Gales veering south-westerly and southerly we knew would bring nothing good. And they didn’t when they came.
Crowds were on par with last year’s remarkable turnout. There are people who would dispute this I know and they did.
Last year’s crowded streets were a joy to behold as people flitted and strolled and traipsed hither and tither at will in their gaily coloured garments.
This year they were packed even stuck in every available doorway and overhang along both sides of the street.
There was no meeting and greeting only dashing and running with the head down and bent on getting to the next available shelter.
These would be the people who’d never dream of darkening the door of a public house. They provided quite a street spectacle for those who do and did.
The pubs lapped up the early rain as the boys used to darkening their doors kept darkening away at every opportunity.
There were several bad bursts of rain in the course of the shortened fair.
The early arrivals got the best of the day. By mid-day the sky was sullen and in anything but an obliging mood.
After a couple of more heavy showers at about 1-30pm and 2pm and a continuous down-pour from 3pm on – the show was over. People were packing it in from there on.
Harping back to last year again: Then, people stayed at their flitting and traipsing up to the Angelus and the pubs were lifting and the singing was spilling onto the bone dry streets.
The only good news that I have to infuse is that retired oil man, Anthony Cronin won the Castleisland Races Committee prize of a trailer of winter fuel. Solid Fuel – you understand. Don’t you just love the ironies of life – even on such a colourless day. Or, is there any such thing? I suppose not.
It was a day that was all about water. And oh how freely it flowed. Now there’s a case waiting for the prolific songwriting pen of Mickey MacConnell !
Next year might be fine again. Go mbeirimid beo ar an am seo arís!
