Old fairs in Conna and neighbouring areas
One time Conna was known in Irish as Conna of the Fairs. In the mid 1800’s there were four fairs or markets held there each year. The dates were 15th May (Ascension Day), 19th June, 2 October and 20th November. They were held in the street, on the fair green and also where Castlebrook housing estate is now located. Up to recent times this field was known as Pairc an Aonaigh (Fair Field). Roche’s field opposite the church was also a fair field. Apparently there was a lot of faction fighting during fairs and it was accepted by all except the authorities. After the fighting it was not unusual for the adversaries to retire to the local public houses and spend the evening together in harmony. A carnival atmosphere prevailed with drinks being served in tents and stalls to the sound of music and dancing. Mutton and pigs feet were boiled in cauldrons. Tough Irish cheese was sold by women with weighing scales. Some even ate the food on horseback. Each customer was given cutlery and a wooden plate. Eventually the fairs declined and died out due to changing circumstances. Originally cattle, sheep, pigs, horses and donkeys were bought and sold as well as all kinds of produce. An old toil board of dues paid for animals, goods and stalls is at present in the hall in Conna. This money was paid to the Duke of Devonshire’s agent, Hilery F. L’Estrange
About 50 years ago Conna people brought their livestock to monthly fairs in Fermoy, Tallow and Lismore which were well within walking distance. Then the fair was one of the most important events in rural Ireland and also a big social occasion with plenty of colour, excitement and sometimes controversy. Many people still have memories of towns full of cattle crowding the streets with buyers and sellers arguing noisily. Thankfully there was no further sign of any faction fighting and the food was a lot more refined! Most people were affected by the fairs in one way or another, even the people who had to clean up the mess on the pavements, walls, doors etc. The school children who helped in driving the animals to the fair, and of course had the day off, loved the magic of it all. Suddenly the fairs were there no longer, being replaced by the better organised and more professional marts in the mid ‘50’s. Fermoy mart was actually built in the field where the old fairs were once held.
A few of the old horse fairs contiuue to be held. There is an annual one in Tallow and one in Cahirmee. The Bartlemy horsefair has been revived and is also flourishing. It is said that Napoleon’s famous white charger ‘Marengo’ was bought at Bartlemy fair. This famous horse was foaled in Co. Wexford in 1796 and sold at Bartlemy before the year 1800 to a French officer. Napoleon bought it and continued to ride it until the Baffle of Waterloo in 1815. It is also reputed that the Duke of Wellington’s charger in that battle was bought at Cahirmee fair c. 1810.
The drover played a very important role in the holding of cattle fairs. He was responsible for moving herds of cattle to different places and from fair to fair. Very often he was a professional who was hired by the owner. Tie livestock had to be moved by road before the railways were built or where there were no railway lines available. It was common for a drover to move cattle well over 100 miles visiting different fairs until they were sold. Billy Coleman of Tallow was one such drover. Until comparatively recent times a drover and his cattle had the right of way on Irish roads.
Another character involved with fairs was the tangler. He was a very good judge of horseflesh, was quick witted and was a good actor. His job was to sniff out a bargain price for his client or else buy animals himself and sell them again for a tidy profit. Sometimes the tangier was known as a blocker, meaning someone who softened up the seller. If a buyer was unable to complete a deal he may go away and allow the blocker to move in and make a new bid for the livestock. The bid was always a lot less than the genuine buyer and he would refuse to increase it while he continued to bargain and haggle loudly and dramatically. Often he pointed out exaggerated faults with the animals leaving the owner confused and anxious. When the tangler eventually departed without buying that would be the signal for the genuine buyer to move back in. Generally the owner was so glad of a better offer that he would be in the mood to sell. In Fermoy, the Walshs, Fentons, Barrys and Hawes were well known tanglers or jobbers.
In the old days the breeds of cattle in rural Ireland were mainly Shorthorns and Herefords (Whiteheads). There was also a black breed called Aberdeen Angus which were beef animals.
Fermoy fair stretches back to at least the turn of the last century whereas Tallow fair only got going in the early 1950’s. When going to Fermoy people had to get up in the very early hours of the morning or not go to bed at all. Then they collected the animals from the fields and hit the road. Some of the younger men may have just come home early from a dance and certainly would not have seen bed. After the Muiutir na Tire hall in Conna was built in 1945 dances were held regularly on Sunday nights and these often clashed with early mornings for a fair. Often when the timing of a dance was being discussed at a meeting someone would moan “But that’s the night before the fair”! Many people going to the fair in Tallow often lodged their cattle in Paddy Flynn’s field in the town the night before.
Cattle and sheep were sold at Fermoy fair on the first Monday of every month and pigs were sold the next Monday. The fair field contained pens to hold the livestock and whoever came early claimed one of these. Then just one person was needed to look after the animals for the rest of the day instead of the three or four who brought them in. Ideally four were needed to drive the herd to the fair, one in front, one behind and one at each side for crossroads. Very often two or three families combined and drove the cattle as one big herd. If the weather was bad it was just tough luck because there were no oilskins in those days and the only solution was a hot whiskey or two in one of the early opening pubs.
Another thing that was dreaded was driving cattle past a field with a bull in it. If the cattle broke in there would be serious trouble! Animals were marked on the sides or back with an identifying letter to help trace them. This was done with tar or paint.
Having arrived at the fair tired and very often drenched wet, a good place would have to be found to stand the animals. If the pens were full then another suitable place would have to be found. More often than not this was on the street. At one time the street from the Courthouse up as far as the Square was taken up with assorted groups of cattle and sheep. When things had settled down and plans for the day were made then it was time for some of the weary helpers to get some refreshment. For some of the younger fellows it simply meant finding some place to catch up on lost sleep. Others went in search of a good breakfast. Cotters and John Colls were two well known restaurants. They were both located in Kent Street below where Shaws are now. Others went for liquid refreshment and called at places like Jack Dalys at the Square, O’Bnens and Rices. Many of these pubs had a special licence and opened very early in the morning. However, for most it was a matter of staying at their post, without eating, until as long as it took to sell the animals. Of course there was nothing as frustrating as having to drive them home again unsold in the evening. This often happened when prices were particularly bad.
While some people were getting a break uptown, the main business was continuing around the fair field. The buyers and tanglers were busy at work doing what they did best, snapping up bargains here and there. Many farmers dreaded them and regarded them as a nuisance. Just when they thought they had a new buyer they realised it was just another tangler taking up their time. The residents of the houses on the street were kept busy all day endeavouring to keep the animals away from their front doors. The brush and the shovel were in constant use. They must have felt hard done by because mostly they got no benefit from the fair except plenty of fresh manure!
When a deal was finally struck with a genuine buyer, luck money had to be given to the buyer to go with the cattle. Often a big time buyer would give a ticket to the owner. After having lunch in the hotel he would visit the bank and draw out a large sum of money. At the Square he handed over the cash to the farmers with tickets. It was then he was given the luck money. In many cases the seller would already have taken the livestock up to the railway station and got his ticket marked by the men up there.. Each buyer had his own allotment of railway carriages. There was always a big queue there. Hired drovers sometimes took the animals to the station but some could not be trusted. Often it was part of the deal to take the animals to the railway carriages.
Rarely were women involved in organising fairs or hiring drovers. They often helped their husbands with the cattle or sheep but apparently they were generally viewed with some suspicion. Fairs were always regarded as a man’s job. In those days few women visited pubs after either. If a brave woman did go into a pub she was steered away from the public bar and taken instead into a little room called the snug. In some cases she was entertained in the “parlour”. Mostly she was given a drop of port wine or sherry which was regarded as being appropriate for a woman.
Tom Finn
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