News
On behalf of my fellow directors and members of Ballinasloe Fair & Festival Company, it is my privilege to extend a Céad Míle Fáilte to all our visitors to Europe’s Oldest International Horse Fair. The committee have worked tirelessly throughout the year and have programmed events to entertain families, friends and visitors alike.
The equestrian events combine the old traditions of the Fair on the Fair Green and promotes the Irish sport Horse & Pony in modern competitions held on the sand area on the Green. The side shows, music and entertainment, on the streets are all free of charge with every need catered for.
Without sponsors it is not possible to run such a wide and varied programme of events. To this end we are extremely grateful to each and every one of our sponsors, especially in the current difficult times that we are allexperiencing. Now more than ever before it is important for us all to show the same loyalty to our sponsors that they have shown to the Fair, to the town of Ballinasloe and its surrounding hinterlands.
To the coordinating committee, Kevin Kelly, Director of Services; Mark O’Donnell, Town Clerk; his officials and Town Council staff, for their work in regulating and operating the Fair Green, organising stalls as well as the mammoth clean up task, we thank you. To the members and executive of the Town Council and Mayor Cllr. Mike Kelly who are the only municipality in Ireland and Europe responsible for hosting such a prestigious fair.
To Supt. Cliona Richardson, Insp. Aidan Foley, Sgt. Paraic Keaveney, the local men and women of An Garda Síochána, your support and security operation in maintaining our Fair Week as one of the safest and peaceful in latter years is very much appreciated.
I would like to acknowledge my fellow directors and members of Ballinasloe Fair and Festival Committee who have given so freely of their time throughout the past few months to ensure that the Ballinasloe Fair is yet again the huge success that we have come to associate with this prestigious week long event. A sincere thank you to our secretary, Mary Phelan; to our office team, safety officer, Jim Doherty; to the many volunteers, workers and to Charlene Bloe, our festival coordinator.
Looking forward to meeting you.
Tim Broderick
International Food and Craft Market
The Ballinasloe Fair are delighted to be organising the International Food and Craft Market being held all day in St. Michaels Square on Sunday 9th October, 2011.
The market will be packed with lots of artisan foods, snacks and crafts. Just some of the items on offer will be yummy crepes, curries, falafel, handmade chocolates, smoothies and juices, every flavour of candyfloss and popcorn imaginable, lots of breads and cakes.
Craftwise there will be plenty of jewellery along with lots of unusual handmade items such as fabric crafts, bog oak, candles, slate, skincreams, wood and felt work. Plenty of quirky useful gadgets will be on offer also. You can get your facepainted and even get a temporary tatoo on the day.
A word from the Mayor
As Mayor of Ballinasloe and on behalf of Ballinasloe Town Council and the people of Ballinasloe, it is a great honour for me to extend a very special Fáilte Ui Cheallaigh to Ballinasloe October Fair. This is one of the oldest Horse Fairs in Europe and dates back to the 1700’s. By attending our Fair you are continuing in the tradition of generations of visitors to Ballinasloe down through the centuries. I would like to pay particular welcome to our friends from our sister fairs, the Auld Lammas Fair, Ballycastle and Puck Fair, Killorglin and a special ‘bienvenue’ to our visitors from our twin town in France, Chalonnes-sur-Loire, as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the twinning between our two towns. our visitors from far and near, to this, our International Horse Fair & Festival 2011.
This fair is the largest economic and cultural event in the Ballinasloe calendar and is of immense importance to our town and its hinterland. The hosting of this great event is a huge undertaking for the various organising committees and I commend their hard work and commitment in ensuring the fair continues to flourish into the future. I would like to wish new Chairman of the Fair & Festival Committee, Tim Broderick; Chairman of the Show Society, Fr. Christy McCormack and Event Controller, Charlene Bloe continued success.
I would also like to acknowledge the excellent work and commitment of the co-ordinating committee supported by Ballinasloe Town Council, Director of Services, Kevin Kelly; along with all Council staff and fellow Council members. An event of this nature requires a very professional approach to policing and security and accordingly I would like to pay tribute to Supt. Cliona Richardson, Insp. Aidan Foley, and the highly respected Garda force, whose dedicated work ensures that the fair is family friendly and trouble free for all. An International Horse Fair and Festival of this magnitude would not be possible without considerable financial income and accordingly I would like to thank the local business community and the fair sponsors for their ongoing financial support. This support ensures that this International Fair & Festival continues as the oldest and greatest Horse Fair in Europe and is preserved for future generations.
Once again, Cead Mile Fáilte Ui Cheallaigh to all. I hope you have a wonderful time at our Fair & Festival and enjoy our town and the warm hospitality of it’s people. I look forward to seeing you and your friends back in Ballinasloe in the near future.
Cllr. Mike Kelly
Mayor of Ballinasloe
Over the last 4 years we have witnessed first-hand the benefits to our local economy the Ballinasloe Horse Fair & Festival brings through visitors and the support of the locals as well as the many traditions. We at the Carlton Shearwater Hotel are delighted to continue our tradition again this year as Main Sponsor of the Fair & Festival.
We encourage you to partake in the event-filled calendar throughout the nine day festival, whether that is lunging on the Fair Green, trawling stalls on the street or enjoying the singing pubs competition.
We are proud to also be associated with a number of fantastic events and particularly the Carlton Shearwater Queen of the Fair on the 17th September.
We would also like to once again this year commend the hard working committee of the Fair & Festival who each year spends tireless hours putting this wonderful international event together.
We look forward to welcoming you all to the festival and to the Carlton Shearwater Hotel.
Martin Daly, General Manager,
Carlton Shearwater Hotel
Former Irish soccer legend Niall Quinn will officially kick-off this year's fair on Sunday October 2nd. Don't miss your chance to meet an Irish hero.
