School: Baile an Mhuilinn, An Droichead Nua (roll number 16654)
- Location:
- Milltown, Co. Kildare
- Teacher: S.P. Ó Donnchadha
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0775, Page 495
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- The local fairs are held in the towns of Kildare and Newbridge. The local fairs are always held in towns. In years gone by buyers used to come to cross-roads and watch the people going to the fair. They would make a bargain between themselves and the sellers and so coax the cattle off the poor people for about a pound less than they were. This is discontinued now because the people are too clever for them.
I never heard tell of any fairs on hills. There are special places for fairs in the towns of Kildare and Newbridge called the "Fair Green"
Money is given as luck on animals. A half-crown is given on a horse, and two shillings is given on a cow.
When a bargain has been made the parties show their agreement by spitting on their hands and rubbing them on the animals.
When a bargain has been made and the animal sold, it is branded on the side with tar.
The greatest horse fair held here is the fair of the "French Furze", which is held on the edge of the Curragh in Kildare.
Special fairs are held for bonhams and horses, but sheep are sold with cattle.(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Annie Curran
- Gender
- Female
- Address
- Punchersgrange, Co. Kildare
