NEW YEAR FINDS OLD EQUINE TRADITIONS ALIVE AND WELL

THOUGH the cutest among them might have said otherwise, horse dealers were enjoying brisk trade on Market Street on Thursday as the New Year got off on a great traditional note.

This was the first of the four annual fairs held on the famous street, which sees the horse crowd coming out in droves with seemingly little prior advertising of the event and its changing dates.

It’s as if the whole business of horses and ponies is so ingrained in them they can feel it in their waters when it’s time to hit Listowel for a few choice deals.

There was plenty of buying on Thursday and by all ages, in further indication of how strong the horse tradition is likely to persist into the future.

As Domnick Walsh’s photographs show, it was a day full of colour and character with huge input by the young – many showing mastery far beyond their years.

Darragh Chawke from Ballymacelligott cut quite the dash on his impressive mount (pictured below right); as did local girl Mollie O’Hanlon (above) in scenes that could have come from any period of our history, minus the clothes and riding gear of the time, of course.

It remains a key part of our heritage that would be lost at our peril.

ABOVE: Aoibheann O’Leary (8) beaming clearly with love for her little pony at the Listowel Horse Fair on Thursday. Photos by Domnick Walsh LEFT: James McCarthy (5) has the rein with Charlie O’Brien (3), Mike Walsh, James McCarthy and Jonathan O’Brien.

Darragh Chawke from Ballymacelligott cuts a dash on his impressive horse on Market Street.

All photos by Domnick Walsh Local girl Mollie O’Hanlon looking in absolute command of her steed striding through the Horse Fair on Market Street last Thursday.

LEFT: Patrick Fitzgerald surveys the Horse Fair on Thursday. Photos by Domnick Walsh