All the fun of the fair at Mullagh this Sunday

An exciting line-up of events and competitions are promised for this year's Mullagh Fair, which takes place this coming Sunday, 11th September. This year, the organisers are adding some new attractions such as national and international wrestling, which should be well-received with the young and not so young. Streetwise Street Entertainers from Northern Ireland will put on a number of performances throughout the day and the Virginia Gospel Singers will also perform. Having had a very successful run in the RTE's All-Ireland Talent Show, the gospel choir is set to entertain everybody on the day. Brush Shiels, who went down very well at last year's fair, will return to Mullagh and back by popular demand too is the Tallest Man at the Fair competition. The organisers are looking for the tallest man at the fair for the second year and are offering a €1,000 prize to the winner. Last year the competition was won by James Clarke from Kilmainhamwood, who measured 6 foot, 10.5 inches. In these recessionary times, the committee is well aware of the expense of bringing the family on a days out and have laid on free children's entertainment, including the Lambert Puppet Theatre, children's games, a craft workshop and the village farmyard, where the little ones can interact with the animals. This year's line-up also includes Aughakillymaude Community Mummers, street entertainment and music, farmers market, craft market, falconry and reptile display, dog show, vintage cars and machinery, displays of traditional skills and pig-roasting, Of course, the main business of the fair is the buying and selling of cattle, horses, pigs, sheep and poultry. The Mullagh Development Committee re-established the fair day in 1997 to ensure that the present population kept in touch with their rich historical past. Over the years, it has grown to be one of the largest one-day shows in the north-east, with something for young and old alike. There are a number of other events taking place over the fair weekend, including under-12 and under-14 football matches and the launch of a book on the history of camogie in Cavan. 'The History of Cavan Camogie 1909-2009' was published last month. One of the most prominent figures in the early development of the association was Professor Agnes O'Farrelly from Raffoney in the parish of Mullagh. A special launch of the book takes place in St Kilian's Heritage Centre this Friday, 9th September, at 9pm as part of the fair weekend. All money raised on the fair day is reinvested in the community. In the past five years alone, over €150,000 has been raised for local organisation and projects such as Mullagh Sports Centre, Mullagh Community Playground, the People's Park on the Fair Green, the Hill Walk, Mullagh Hall, Mullagh Tidy Towns committee and many more.