Fair enough.... Cliona Hagan will take to the main stage at this year’s Dunderry Fair.

Cliona to kick off festival season at Dunderry Fair

Dunderry Fair is back, bigger and better than ever this Bank Holiday Sunday, 1st May.

This traditional street fair (and much more ) has been a staple event in the Meath and surrounding counties social calendar for 17 years now. This year more than ever perhaps, following a two-year Covid absence the fair marks the start of the long-awaited return of the summer festival season. So, to renew old acquaintances and make new ones and for a fun filled family day out, all roads lead to Dunderry this Sunday.

The music this year will be headlined by the new queen of the Irish country music scene, the one and only Cliona Hagan.

In addition to being a premium entertainer, country music superstar Cliona has been a great advocate and supporter of Down Syndrome Ireland, one of our several charitable associations this year.

Our own local stars from nearby Athboy, Matt Leavy and Nigel Connell will also be belting out the tunes over the course of the day, entertainment on the main stage starts at 12pm. Several special guest star appearances throughout will surprise.

A luxurious Hotel weekend away awaits the winners of the Jiving competition. The Brian Boru Ceile Band will take to the second stage for a great day of traditional music and set dancing. Check out our facebook page for all details.

This year’s fair will see a much-extended rare breeds section kindly sponsored by Carnaross Mart. Get up close to the highland cattle straight from the Queen's herd at Balmoral no less.

There will be much competition for the Ann Murphy perpetual memorial cup in this section, with long horn cattle, alpacas, lamas and several rare breeds of sheep being showed.

An array of arts crafts, trades and vintage machinery will again be on display, there is great education and history amongst the entertainment. Young and old alike are always enthralled by the falconry display and the farrier will again be hard at work.

There will be plenty of artisan foods for a well deserved break, but hard to beat the ICA tent for a well earned mug of tea after seeing all the sights. Dessie Coffey's famous colcannon is an experience of itself.

Over the 16 years to date of Dunderry Fair, many charities and causes have benefited including Meath Hospice, Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Temple Street Children’s Hospital, St. Joseph’s CNU, Trim, Muscular Dystrophy, Pieta House, Irish Motor Neuron Disease Association, Irish Heart Foundation, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda. But as they say charity begins at home so one of this year’s main beneficiaries will be the charitable trust which has taken ownership of and plans to rejuvenate the parish hall in the village of Dunderry. Seed money to establish this project had previously been donated by the Fair committee.

The fair committee would like to thank Dunderry GAA, (Camogie & LGFA), Trim Garda for their continued support, Meath County Council, the local national school, parish priest Fr Noel Horneck and the local farmers who provide the land and the car parks. Last but not least, the wider people of the parish of Dunderry, Kilbride & Robinstown for their unwavering and passionate support.

There is ample free parking available on all approach roads. All the entertainment starts @ 12 noon. Entry is gen admission €15 , 5-18 €5 under 5 free.

So, step back in time to the colourful days of an old street fair, step out on the dance floor to the sounds of an amazing music line up, step back out and about to meet your old friends and new.

There really is nothing like a family day out at the old Dunderry Fair.