This fair took place somewhere around the year 1869. The date was July 12th and since a ballad singer was responsible for having the date of the fair changed to the first of that month, no fair has been held in Manorhamilton, (since), on the twelfth.
It happened like this. Towards mid-day when the people were moving away from the fair-green and were assembling in the town a ballad singer commenced to sing loudly. This was his song.
Come all ye good people draw near me
The truth I would wish to lay down
The distress of our poor Irish nation
Our hardships in country and town
II
Our pigs we must sell them for nothing
Our rents we're not able to pay.
Our throats for tobacco are calling
Since the Union was first brought away