Updated: Wednesday, 25th August, 2010 4:40pm

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400 year tradition kept alive at Mullagh Fair Day

€1,000 prize for tallest man at fair

The streets of Mullagh will be busy for the fair day on 12th September.

Mullagh Fair Day takes place on 12th September next. The traditional fair was one of the best and biggest in the north east, its proximity to the Virginia Road railway station ensured that cattle purchased in Mullagh could easily be transported to ports in Dublin and Drogheda.

However the opening of the Mullagh mart in 1957 finally brought to a close a long chapter in the history of Mullagh, since the first charters and licences were granted in 1621.

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.

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 and many more.

Plans are at an advanced stage for this year's Fair. The committee have been meeting on a regular basis to ensure the day is a great success. It's always a challenge to come up with new ideas.

This year's attractions include: Tallest man at the Mullagh Fair, offering €1,000 to the winner; Lambert's Puppet Show; Brush Shields; Aughakillymaude Community Mummers; street entertainment and music; sand sculpturing; children's entertainment and games; farmers market; craft market; falconry and reptile display; dog show; vintage cars and machinery; traditional farm yard; displays of traditional skills; pig roasting; in addition to buying and selling of cattle, horses, pigs, sheep and poultry.

This year the committee are introducing a permit for all stalls and only stalls with permits are permitted on the Main Street.

This will be strictly enforced.

For further information or any queries, contact a member of the committee on (087) 746 6606 or email on mullaghfairday@eircom.net.