The Hiring Fair

Search the site:

extracted from the Appletree Press title Hiring Fairs and Market Places by May Blair.

COUNTY ANTRIM

Centuries ago Dunluce ranked as ‘a town of considerable size’, with an annual fair held on 12 November. In those days it was the seat of the County Assizes, and had its own courthouse, jail, dungeon and even a gallows on a nearby hill. Fairs were held there regularly until the 1700s, when they transferred to Bushmills because of the gambling, rioting, and sundry other vices that were perpetrated at them. Whether or not the behaviour of the people improved when they went to Bushmills is a matter of conjecture.
The main crops grown in the area were potatoes, grain and flax. The most important time of the year was the harvest. Often workmen formed themselves into a group (called a boon) and travelled from farm to farm to help with saving the crop. At a really busy time the women of the house pitched in too. The poem ‘The Lint Pullin’ sets the scene:
Bushmills owes much of its success to the Macnaghten family, who spared no expense in improving the town. In 1828 Sir Francis Macnaghten built a market place on the main street. It included two huge grain stores, each three storeys high, and a commodious slated shed for the sale of grain in wet weather. This was enclosed in a walled yard with two gates opening onto the street. It was said at the time that few parishes possessed a greater advantage, namely a good market within four miles of a good harbour (Portrush) from which grain and butter could be shipped weekly to England or Scotland. Some grain was also shipped from the quay in Portballintrae. Bushmills had several corn mills and flax mills, not to mention a spade mill and the ever famous distillery. Twice weekly markets were held for the sale of meal, potatoes, grain and yarn. A linen market was attempted in 1833 but did not succeed. The four original fairs increased to twelve in the nineteenth century and from then on were held regularly on the fifteenth of each month. The weekly markets continued to flourish. Sir Francis added a handsome clock to the market entrance in 1874, though he was by then leasing out the market rights.
Successful fairs were held throughout the centuries at Dervock, Armoy and Mosside. A market was held on the fair day at Dervock and Armoy. Dervock was noted for its horse fairs as distinct from other types of livestock offered for sale. It is likely that hiring took place at all these places. It certainly took place at Mosside for The Coleraine Chronicle of 27 May 1876 stated:

The Mosside (Co. Antrim) Annual Hiring Fair was held on the usual stance on Monday last (22nd May). There was a large attendance of parties desiring to be hired and many employers were on the ground. Wages reached much the same as in other hiring fairs held during the last few weeks. There was a good show of cattle, and those exhibited were in low condition owing to the backwardness of the grass. Strippers sold at from £9 to £11; two year olds from £6 to £9 and one year olds from £3 to £6. Sheep were scarce and sold readily at about 9d. per lb. There were no horses or fat cattle shown. The fair altogether was below average.

Two fairs were held annually in Stranocum around 1835, but they were even then in decline. Fairs were held also at the Giant’s Causeway, Ballintoy, Cushendun, Cushendall, Glenariff (Waterfoot), Carnlough and Glenarm. The Giant’s Causeway held one for years every thirteenth of August purely for amusement. It was said to attract a great assemblage of well-dressed country people who spent their time dancing, eating and drinking in tents, or strolling about the rocks and cliffs. Ballintoy held four annually, at which Highland ponies, cattle, meal, yarn and flax were the principal articles sold. In addition to the usual corn and flax mills in the area, employment was found in the three salmon fisheries, the best known of which was at Carrick-a-rede, where a rope bridge was constructed in 1850 to accommodate the fishermen going to their work. Cushendun is notable because many of the Highland ponies sold at the fairs in the surrounding countryside were imported through its harbour. At the turn of the twentieth century it had seven fairs of its own, held on the first Wednesday of each month from February onwards. It is likely that these were established many years before.
Cushendall had eight fairs, the same number as were held there fifty years previously. At that time potatoes, oatmeal, dried seaweed, yarn and a little coarse linen were the main commodities sold. Farmers in the main preferred to sell produce such as pork and butter in Ballymena and Ballycastle, where it fetched a higher price. Publicans in Cushendall tried to liven things up on Fair Day by setting aside rooms and employing pipers or fiddlers to provide music for dancing, but the parish priest declared that such gatherings were sinful and ordered that they be discontinued. However, a little card playing and some cock fighting went on quietly in spite of the priest. Formerly sheep, cattle and ponies were sold at the old Fair Hill beyond the summit of High Street but that was abandoned in later years in favour of the village streets. There is little doubt that hiring took place at the quarterly fairs held on the fourteenth of the month, for the O.S. Memoir of the time records that, as in Ballycastle, young women could be seen walking to within a short distance of Cushendall with their shoes and stockings in their hands, prior to washing their feet in preparation for presenting themselves at the fair.
In the early nineteenth century Glenarm had two fairs, described as ‘inconsiderable’, and Carnlough had four. By the end of the century Glenarm had four and Carnlough six. Glenarm was a post town and since the Coast Road had not yet been constructed, the mail was carried on horseback once a day from Ballycastle. The Coast Road was made in the 1830s ‘to ease the hardships of life for the Glensfolk who could only with difficulty take a cart to market in summer and in winter could be isolated for weeks.’ The opening of the new road transformed their lives. Instead of marketing their produce by boat across the sea to Scotland or around the Irish coast, they could now market it in Larne or any of the neighbouring towns. The lot of the Glensfolk had at last begun to improve.

THE POTATO
Sublime potatoes! that from Antrim’s shore
To famous Kerry, from the poor man’s store
Agreeing well with every place and state-
The peasant’s noggin, or the rich man’s plate.
Much prized when smoking from the teeming pot,
Or in turf-embers roasted crisp and hot
Welcome, although you be our only dish;
Welcome, companion to flesh, fowl, or fish;
But to the real gourmands, the learned few,
Most welcome, steaming in an Irish Stew.
(written around 1800 by an unknown author)

[ Back to Top ]

[ Home | Features | Culture | History | Travel ]