Still an event not to be missed where thousands of visitors savour the atmosphere of the livestock sales and the many hundreds of stalls selling toys, bric-a-brac , souvenirs and various other items not to mention the Fair's traditional "Dulse and Yellowman".
The pubs are alive with traditional Irish music and dancing and singing takes place on the streets where visitors are made most welcome with the carnival like atmosphere. .......... Some Images here
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2006 Lammas Fair Video now on sale! Available From John and local outlets. A Must to visit John Thompson's Old Ireland Video's Website ...... Irish DVDs
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At the Ould Lammas Fair in
Ballycastle long ago
I met a pretty
colleen who set me heart a-glow
She was smiling at her daddy buying lambs from Paddy Roe
At the Ould Lammas Fair in Ballycastle-O!
Sure I seen her home that night
When the moon was shining bright
From the ould Lammas Fair in Ballycastle-O!
At the ould Lammas Fair boys
were you ever there
Were you ever at the Fair In Ballycastle-O?
Did you treat your Mary Ann
To some Dulse and Yellow Man
At the ould Lammas Fair in Ballycastle-O!
In Flander's fields afar while
resting from the War
We drank Bon Sante to the Flemish lassies O!
But the scene that haunts my memory is kissing Mary Ann
Her pouting lips all sticky from eating Yellow Man
As we passed the silver Margy and we strolled along the strand
From the ould Lammas Fair in Ballycastle-O!
There's a neat little cabin on
the slopes of fair Knocklayde
It's lit by love and sunshine where the heather honey's made
With the bees ever humming and the children's joyous call
Resounds across the valley as the shadows fall
Sure I take my fiddle down and my Mary smiling there
Brings back a happy mem'ry of the Lammas Fair
Below is the recipe if you want to try it out!
Some Info on the Fairs origin.
On the last Tuesday of August each year the famous
"Ould lammas fair" of Ballycastle is held. It is a, real
old time festival, the main characteristics of which have
been wonderfully preserved down to the present day.
The exact origin of the now famous Lammas fair is
uncertain. One theory is that it began as a result of the
occupation of the Route and Glens of Antrim by the
Macdonnells of the Isles. In the early part of the six-teenth
century, this powerful clan apparently chose the
district where Ballycastle now stands as its headquarters
The ancient name of Ballycastle was Port Brittas now
represented by the old boat slip. It was from this
port that the Dalriadans sailed from Britain where they
colonized Scotland and it is said that Fergus the
Great sailed in AD. 502 taking with him to the Scottish shore
Lia Fail or stone of fate, on which Irish Monarchs were crowned
at Tara which in 1296 was bought by Edward1 from Scone to Westminster Abbey.
As the Macdonnells became firmly established in the
route (particularly after the Battle of Aura in the reign
of Queen Elizabeth) and Glynns, and so could make use
of the fertile land and stock of the territory they occu-
pied, this importation of provisions was no longer a
necessity so far as militancy operations were concerned ;
but the custom continued, possibly on a smaller scale. It
eventually resolved itself into a form of exchange or
barter between the clansmen in the Isles and their kins-
folk in the northern parts of Antrim. It also provided
an opportunity for exchanging greetings and gossip be-
tween the families uf the clan. Moreover, it is on record
that Sorley Boy Macdonnell ordered the celebration of
public games at Ballycastle to celebrate the coming of age
of his nephew Gillaspick, son of his brother Colla of Kinbane.
Ballycastle was then referred to as " the town of
Somhairle, which is "Baile Caishlean " or as "Sarhirly
Boy his town". Thus it was in some such circumstances
that the Lammas Fair had its origin.
Click here for more
images of the fair!
Click THIS LINK For more Information on the Fair
