Horse lovers of the county hit Listowel’s fair

TOO often of late traditions are being broken, so it is refreshing to see the Listowel horse fair still being held on Market Street, Thursday’s event being the last of the current year.

In a town based strongly on tradition, the Horse Fairs are central events on the calendar. Calls for them to be moved from Market Street are perhaps an indication that some people have lost sight of the importance of tradition.

If a child takes a stroll through the Market Street with their parents on a fair day for instance, they are embarking on an educational journey.

Age-old trading traditions such as spitting on the palm of the hands prior to sealing a deal are still practiced by some today and offer children a golden opportunity to gain an insight into times past.

Such rituals were in evidence again on Thursday as traders came from across the county to do business.

Many can recall the excitement of walking through the street as a child, gazing in amazement at the horses, full sure they were looking at the finest man could wish for. It stirred a love for horses within me that led this writer to attach a €5 note to my Santa letter one particular Christmas, in the hope that the man himself would buy me a field for the pony I longed for. That particular request is still being processed.

While change can so often be positive, certain traditions should not be broken, a lot can be learned from them.

Photos by Domnick Walsh Charlie O’Doherty from Ballyduff and Sean Hartigan from Limerick at the fair.

Jim Daughton from Duagh managing a close inspection of Sammy the pony on Market Street.

Bernie O’Connell from Lixnaw and John Cronin from Killorglin looking every inch the horse and pony experts they are .

A great place to meet old friends and indulge in the fine art of horse trading - that’s the scene in Listowel four times a year for the age-old horse fair.

Killorglin man Frank Cronin with a horse named Bob on Market Street on Thursday.

Demi Quirke from Glin getting her pony Sparkle all glittering at the outset of the Listowel Horse Fair on Thursday.

Eamon Sweeney Listowel , Patrick O’Brien from Ardfert and Charlie O’Brien from Listowel.