Summer starts with Dunderry Fair

An opportunity for meeting up with old friends, forging new friendships and putting the cares of everyday living on hold takes place this Sunday, 14th May, when the annual Dunderry Fair takes place.
A modern recreation of a traditional fair day, it features farm animals, dealers and dealing as in the days of yesteryear. Cattle, sheep, horses, asses and poultry will be on display, with pet lambs, calves, foals and chicks for the children to pet. Demonstrations of crafts and skills of bygone times like butter-making, harness making, tin-smithing and basket-making will be on show. David Madden will be shoeing horses, Jimmy Cully will be shearing sheep, Martin Payne will be loy digging and Peter Coffey will be organising time-honoured games like horseshoe throwing. There will be the traditional teas with scones, brown bread and jam and colcannon (mashed spuds with scallions and eggs) cooked by Dessie on an open turf fire. Dunderry Fair is a day out for everyone. It has a range of displays, activities and carnival amusements and attractions that is outstanding. Dunderry Fair is truly a wonderful social and cultural event.

New Mothers

Local farmers Gus and Olive Martyn breed Clydesdale horses and this year have two young mares called Milly and Ryehill. For these young mares it is their first time foaling and the new colt and filly in the Martyn family will be at Dunderry Fair. Dunderry Fair Facebook has been running a competition to name the new foals, and the winners will get each get a family pass to the fair.
There's more baby news - Olive's goat Candy has just had a beautiful little kid and both mother and baby will be at the Fair, as well as a few cute but cheeky pet lambs wanting to be bottle fed.

A Century of Ford

This year marks 100 years since Henry Ford returned to Ireland to the land of his ancestors to set up his first European car manufacturing plant in Cork. Dunderry Fair has invited all vintage owners to display at the fair. The local club, Clady Vintage Club Dunderry will be making a special effort this year and are celebrating 100 years of Ford by putting together a wonderful collection of cars, tractors, implements and memorabilia.
Dunderry Fair has prizes for the oldest Ford car and tractor and for the most original entry. This is a great opportunity for all owners to show their collection and at the same time enjoy the sights and scenes of the now famous Dunderry Fair.

Scarecrows
There will be a repeat of last year's very successful Scarecrow Competition at the Scarecrow Village with over 200 scarecrows. The winners will represent Dunderry in the All-Ireland Competition in Durrow, Co Laois, in July. There are prizes for each of several categories - Humorous, Dance/music, Scariest, Sporting and Anything Goes. Last year's Dunderry Fair winner, Sean Duffy came third in the All Ireland.

Music & Dancing

Robert Mizzell and the Country Kings is the main music act at this year's fair. They are supported by Matt Leavy's Band which includes many country stars like Charlie Arkins, Ray Murtagh, Paul Leavy, Eddie Quinn, Finn Morris, Pat Beegan and many more. There will be a guest appearance of Nigel Connell from Athboy who performed in the Voice Of Ireland.                
The MC will be the well known Eddie Caffrey, who will also introduce the second major attraction of the day - the Jiving Competition. The competition will be adjudicated by the All Ireland Champion Jivers, Mairead Gaffney and Craig Lovett. First prize is a two-night stay and an evening meal for two people in the Central Hotel, Bundoran, Co Donegal and there are trophies and prizes for runners-up in the competition.       At 2pm there will be a 'Mighty Set Dancing Ceili' with Glenside Ceili Band. Followed by Country Dancing with Mary O'Connor and Pat Kelly from 4pm till 6pm. A young talented traditional band from Robinstown, WD4O will be making their debut.

Fashion

There will be prizes for the best traditionally dressed man and woman, prizes for little Miss and little Mr, and the Bonny Baby competition with three prizes for each of four different categories from nought to three years.

Pet Shows

If your dog likes a bit of excitement or likes to pose a little, bring them to the dog show also in the main field. There will be several categories for dogs, but this year it's not all about dogs. We have a category 'Its my pet # it's not a dog' for all other pets, so bring your rabbit, cat, goat, lamb, pig, guinea pig, mouse, fish, or whatever.

Other Entertainment

The fair has a wonderful free kiddies corner, with face painting, live puppet shows, drummers and drumming classes, all organised by talented Orla McFeely. In the main field will be a massive fun fair with reduced rates for kiddie's rides.
All the way from Russia, the exciting live acrobatic Cosack horse show, where Sergei performs various tricks, on and almost under the horse at full gallop.

Voluntary & Charity

For the Dunderry Fair Committee and its many helpers this is the culmination of a year long project, where all the workers on its preparation and cleanup are local volunteers and where the profit is donated to various charities and causes. It's a wonderful team effort and a lot of hard work given freely.

For further information please contact Gus on 086-8571627 or Pat on 086 2633860 or see our facebook page dunderryfairdaymay14th.

Free car parking, adults €10,  children U12 free, senior citizens and students €5.