School: Clonlisk
- Location:
- Clonlisk, Co. Offaly
- Teacher: Micheál Ó Heochaidh
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0819, Page 252
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- XML School: Clonlisk
- XML Page 252
- XML “Local Fairs”
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- The Principal towns in which Local Fairs are held are Roscrea, Cloughjordan, Birr and various other small Villages. Long, long ago fairs were held in Roscrea. People and buyers used come from all parts of Ireland to buy and sell. The town of Roscrea only started since the time in which these great fairs were held.
There is an old fair Green to be seen yet in the village of Shimrone. Fairs were held long ago in that Green. In Roscrea and Cloughjordan the fairs are held in the main streets. Children living in towns usually get off from school on fair days.
It is great fun to watch them buying and selling. Buyers want everything for "Shake of the Hat" and the sellers want everything to go to very high prices. Sometimes they halve the difference of their prices then they make the bargain by spitting on each others hands and hitting them together.
Sometimes drunken men rise fights and then the Guards come and arrest them. Tinkers go to the fairs too, but not to buy or sell animals. They only sell flowers and tin ware. They go principally to drink and rise rows among the people.(continues on next page)
