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NEWS
Dungarvan Observer | Friday, 9 September, 2016
A great day at Tallow Horse Fair FOR 106 years, the Tallow Horse Fair has been a ‘mecca’ for sellers and buyers of horses and this year was no different, as hundreds if not thousands of people from far and wide descended upon the West Waterford town. Tallow was closed to traffic last Monday, as stallholders selling their wares lined the main street. Monday was a fine sunny day for the fair and with a festive atmosphere throughout the town, it was a great day for the whole family. Long time horse dealer and one of the biggest Irish buyers, Miley Cash, from Monasterevin, who attended Tallow Horse Fair last Monday, was said to have purchased 18 horses. It is understood he paid a top price of €3,400 for one horse, and paid in the region of €600 to €1,500 for the other 17 horses. Mr. Cash noted there was a lot less coloured horses this year at Tallow Horse Fair, but added there was a few extra nicer-looking horses than last year. Two other main buyers at Tallow Horse Fair included Jim Derwin from Athlone who purchased 25 horses and Paddy Cross with a Dutch buyer, who purchased two lorry loads of horses destined for a rid-
A horse and sulky making its way through the Fair in Tallow last Monday.
Horses coming to the Tallow Horse Fair.
[David O’Flynn]
An aerial view of Tallow’s Annual Horse Fair which took place on Monday, 5th September last. [David O’Flynn]
ing school. Local horse breeder and owner Tim Beecher, (father of international showjumper, Paul Beecher)
Hannah Carey from Churchstown, considers buying a Bachelor’s in Trouble DVD from Tony Coffey, of Bachelor’s in Trouble, at the Tallow Horse Fair last Monday.
Club in organising the parking facilities. “The Gardaí and the Soccer Club did an outstanding job at the Fair great credit to them,” Mr. Ronayne said. He said the footpaths were railed off for better safety and there was a very sociable atmosphere throughout the day. “The horses were in one place for trade and the crowd was bigger than in other years,” Mr. Ronayne added. Gardaí said the Fair was under control and operated very well, and there were no major incidents.
Whelan and McCarthy families from Tallow and Lismore, with Emer Barry, Lismore, enjoying Tallow Horse Fair last Monday afternoon.
Michael Mulcahy from Ardmore and Delia Cashel from Ballyduff Upper, at the Tallow Horse Fair last Monday.
Ciara Galvin with her father, Pierie; and Tony Coffey, Bachelor’s in Trouble, at the 2016 Tallow Horse Fair last Monday.
attended the Fair with a Scottish client and purchased six horses, paying up to €1,500. Martin Hurley from Conna brought five animals to the Fair and sold the lot. 20-year-old showjumper, Jack O’Donoghue from Tallow, who won his first ever international Puissance at the RDS in Dublin last July, was also in attendance at the Fair. Local resident Bill Ronayne, who has attended the Tallow Horse Fair for the past 55 years, praised the Gardaí for a “job well done” in the organising of the Fair and Tallow Soccer