School: Glenidan (roll number 12862)
- Location:
- Glenidan, Co. Westmeath
- Teacher: Bean Uí Mhaoldhia
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0722, Page 071
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- XML School: Glenidan
- XML Page 071
- XML “Local Fairs”
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- I live in the parish of Collinstown. In that village there are two fairs held each year one on the 8th of May and another on the 30th of October. All sorts of animals are bought and sold there. The fair is held through the whole street, buyers come from every angle to buy the animals. When cattle are sold the people put a raddle on them. There are different colours of raddles, each buyer has his own colour. The buyers that come from Kells are called "blockers, or whackers". The buyers that come from Dublin and England are called "dealers". When they are making the bargain the farmer and dealer have a great clapping of hands and when the cattle are sold the seller has to give back a luck penny usually a half crown a head if they are good cattle. Most of dealers go out a bit the road to meet the farmers with their stock. When they meet a farmer with good cattle the blockers do their best to buy them before they got into the fair, afraid they would lose them. About 11 o'clock "Cheap John" arrives with his travelling shop and takes up the best stand on the street. He opens out his wear, suits of clothes, all kinds of overcoats, and jockeys' breeches. Then he shouts "buy away and we'll sell away, we won't be here to morrow". If prices are good(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Hugh Fitzsimons
- Gender
- Male
- Address
- Collinstown, Co. Westmeath
