Keeping the tradition alive
Last Wednesday horsey folk from across Ireland gathered at the crossroads in Muff to continue a tradition 412 years in operation. Billed as the oldest fair in the country, this year the Fair of Muff saw between 200 and 300 people gather for the annual horse sale.
Taking place in the townland of Muff near Kingscourt, the ancient Fair of Muff is one of the celebrations connected with the Loughanleagh Festival of Lunasa (August).
The tradition stretches back to 1608, when King James 1 granted a licence to Garret Fleming of Cabragh, to hold a Tuesday market at the ‘Castle of Clanchye’ (Muff Castle), and a fair on the first of August and the two following days.
Today the Fair takes place on August 12 each year and continues to be a focal point in the Irish calendar among horse traders for the buying and selling of horses.
The woman that pulled the 2020 fair together in the face of a global pandemic was Elizabeth Fleming: “It was tough. There was a lot of nights with no sleep, let me tell you,” Elizabeth said of this year’s event.
“There was a lot going against me. I’ve had horses all my life. If the Fair didn’t to go ahead it would be devastating.”
Elizabeth described many of the ‘horsey people’ who attended as “a hardy auld breed”. She said, although some local residents would have preferred if the event had not gone ahead, many of her neighbours were supportive of the decision to continue with the ancient tradition: “There is an element of extreme fear about the virus,” Elizabeth believes.
Trade on the Wednesday was brisk: “There was about 30 to 40 horses and the majority of them were sold.”
Elizabeth said, although social distancing was a part of the day, there were a few handshakes to seal deals and welcome friends: “I sold a horse to Miley Cash and we shook hands.
“He put his C on the horse’s rump, as is tradition. With the lockdown I haven’t seen some of those guys in months, so of course we shook hands. When I saw the lorry belonging to Laurence McAllister from up in Derry coming into the fair, I cried, these are people whose hearts are in fairs.”
The Fair organiser said the gardaí attended on the day of the fair: “They came at around 5pm. They said that they were informed that trading was taking place. All the horses were sold at that stage. Most of the lads had packed up at by then. The guards did a round and then left. Nobody confronted us at any stage on the day.”
Elizabeth is committed to keeping the tradition going: “I believe that, as we kept it going this year, and please God if we are still alive, nothing will stop us again. I haven’t been to the 412 of them, but I’ve been to a good few.”