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Book Title - The Origins of Irish Horse Fairs & Horse Sales
3,000 Years of Selling Irish Horse
Content
Over 240 Pages and more than 250 photographs in colour and black & white, all taken by the author
Binding
Hard Back with Illustrated Dust Cover
ISBN Number
0-9554364-1-9 978-0-9554364-1-3
Publisher
NDM Publications
Publication Date
Early December 2008
Dedicated to
‘Walter’, the authors exceptional Irish Hunter, who died from colic during the Royal Dublin Society’s Horse Show in 2007
Foreword
By Horseman, Bloodstock Agent & Riding Instructor Aidan O’Connell
Theme of Book ‘The Origins of Irish Horse Fairs & Horse Sales’, 3,000 Years of Selling Irish Horses.
The Book tells the story of significant events over 3,000 Years of Selling Irish Horses, beginning with The Great Fair at the Triennial Conference on The Hill of Tara in 1200 BC, and how horse fairs became a familiar feature in the Irish countryside down through the years from the early monastic settlements, the Vikings, and during Norman times up to the present day. It refers to the vast numbers of horses that were purchased at Irish Horse Fairs for wars such as the Crimean War, the Boer War, and the First World War, and how many of the world leaders such as the Emperor Napoleon and the Duke of Wellington were mounted on Irish horses in battle. The reader is also introduced to the traditional breeds of Irish horse, including possibly the most influential, the Irish Hobby, now extinct, and its influence on the speed of the modern thoroughbred, and the American Quarter Horse.
It covers the author’s personal memories of Ballinasloe Horse Fair in County Galway as a child, and in recent years attending the Horse Fairs such as Spancil Hill, Maam Cross, Smithfield, Cahermee, Barthlemy, Aughrim, Banagher, together with the Horse Sales of Tattersalls, Goffs, Cavan, Goresbridge and Clifden. He also writes of some of the principal Horse Shows like the Royal Dublin Society, Balmoral and Millstreet, where horses also change hands. The history of other fairs Muff, Tallow, Auld Lammas Fair, Puck, Drogheda, Dunmanway and Donnybrook Fair are documented.
The book recognises the support of the Irish Government and the financial backing that it gives to the horse industry in Ireland through various organisations, and particularly for its interest in the Irish Army Equitation School and the Garda Mounted Unit, and their role in promoting the Irish Sport Horse.
He explains the significance of Fairs Charters, Fairs Almanacs, the Market Cross, the Travelling Community and examples of their language Cant, Hiring Fairs, Side Shows, and the role of the Dealer, Drover, Tangler, Blocker, Halterman, Farrier, and Saddler. He also enlightens the reader on traditional Methods of Examining Horses for soundness, Toll Collectors, Currency, Weights & Measures, and the influence of the Railway Network, Motor Cars, Trucks and Tractors in the decline in demand for horses.
Photographic Collection
Taken at Horse Fairs by the Author over a 4 year period, some of which were exhibited during the RDS Speaker Series at the Royal Dublin Society in 2006.
Action Photos
Taken in the hunting field, eventing, showjumping, showing, dressage, polo, driving, trotting and racing.
Photos of Breeds of Horses
Irish Draught, Connemara Pony, Thoroughbred, Irish Sport Horse/Hunter, Cob, Coloured Horses, Polo Ponies, Kerry Bog Pony, Clydesdales, Shires, Driving horses, Trotters, Warmbloods and Donkeys
Photos of Fairs
Ballinasloe, Cahermee, Spancil Hill, Barthlemy, Smithfield, Banagher, Maam Cross and Aughrim
Photos of Sales
Clifden, Cavan, Goresbridge, Tattersalls, Goffs, and Baltinglass
Photos of Shows
Royal Dublin Society and Balmoral.
Other Photos
The Hill of Tara, Newgrange, the Army Equitation School, Garda Mounted Unit, Horse Sport Ireland, Railways, Side Shows, Farrier, Saddler, Fair Charter, Horse Ploughing, Steam Tractor & Modern Farming Machinery.
