Ballyclare May Fair

Today is the busiest day of the year in Ballyclare with the opening of the May Fair. It was traditionally a fair that was held twice a year and origins began on the 16th December 1756 when George II granted to the Earl of Donegal the right to hold

'two fairs yearly at the Town and Lands of Ballyclare'

At first the fairs were markets for animals and goods but as they grew to four in a year it was the May and November fairs which became the most important as it was there that the farmers hired their labouring men and servant girls for the next six months. The May Fair was traditionally held on a Tuesday in late May but in the nineteenth century such was the demand for horses that the Monday was given over to the trade. One dealer alone brought a hundred horses each year while others came into Ballyclare riding bareback and leading a string of horses. Representatives of cavalry regiments from all over Europe came to buy as the reputation of the fair spread.

From the photo's you will see that the horse sale is still running but on a much smaller scale. It still takes place in the square with more food stalls than anything else. But the kids are happy as they always get Half day at school.