Market Days

Adam, Oliver, Róisín & Emma

There were many fairs held in Kinvara to sell cattle, sheep, pigs and corn. The pictures taken by Robert Creswell show us it must have been a sight to behold! If only we could travel back in time to experience it!

sHEEP fAIRS IN THE 1950S

The sheep fair on the 17th of October was by far the biggest fair of the year. Farmers came 1 or 2 days beforehand to set up their pens. They always tried to go to the same spot as the year before. Pens are set up all the way out to the castle some years, people came from Loughrea and even further. Kids also had a day off school for some of the busier fairs and often helped out for a shilling or a sixpence.

….“The sheep market was held in Kinvara - the sheep were penned up against houses all along the street in kinvara. To make and agree a deal the two farmers would smack hands. The farmers used to go to Gort and Ennis in a Horse and Cart with wheat, barley and oats to sell. The Cattle were brought to Gort and sometimes sold and put on animal carriages on the train…..”

Kathy Tannian

sMALLER fAIRS

There were also more fairs on at different times of the year. There was a sheep fair on the 15th of September but it was smaller and not as busy. Lambs and calves were also sold sometimes in July.

Selling Banbh's

The pig fair was held on the first Monday of every month except July and August. Weaned piglets or banbhs could be bought at the square and fattened at home on the farm. They would be slaughtered sometime between October and March. A big pig fair is is said to have been held for many years on Saint Stephen’s Day at Dunguaire castle, probably going back to middle age times.

tHE cORN mARKET

Vast amounts of corn were sold in Kinvara from the beginning of the 20th century. People from all surrounding areas visited the market at the time. People with their barley lined the whole of Kinvara village while they waited for the corn to be checked by Henry Persse’s agent on the Quay. It was then loaded into seven or eight boats. Farmers arrived from 2 o’clock in the morning.

For some time people had to pay sixpence to enter the village on these days but from 1950 you were allowed to enter for free.

Market in 1950S

tHE fARMER'S mARKEt toDAY

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