The Lammas Fair in Ballycastle

Book Cover

In his book Traveller in the Glens (1979), Jack McBride describes, on pages 117-120, The Lammas Fair in Ballycastle, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. In the olden times, he writes, it was the day when the first-fruits of the corn, i.e. loaves, were given in thanksofferings. From pagan times it was an aenach, or fair, that was dedicated to thanksgiving and celebration. There were games, trials of skill between noted warriors and athletes, contests between bards, with a very important section where marriages were performed. It appears, from the following paragraph, it was also a time for forming relationships that would lead to marriage:

p. 117 Traveller in the Glens by Jack McBride

cailin Irish variant of colleen

Mr. McBride wrote that in those early times the Lammas Fair lasted for three days and was hosted by the MacDonnells and M'Donalds. It was a time when the Antrim Scots met the Scots in Antrim (those red-shanked Highlanders). There was a brisk trade in cattle and highland ponies, and pipes and harps entertained the visitors. The nights, lit with bonfires, were a time for dancing the jigs and reels. On huge spits, sides of oxen were roasted to fill their bellies.

Dulse

Yella-man

Today, it is said that thousands of people attend the Lammas Fair, enduring the traffic jams that go with it. Besides horses and cattle, fair goers might find sheep and other animals, like llamas and rabbits at the fair. They can purchase Dulse and Yella-man, famous treats that have been sold at the Lammas Fair for hundreds of years. Another attraction, long awaited by the younger visitors to the fair, is the popular Amusement Rides. For a spectacular view of the fair and surrounding countryside, take advantage of the swinging seat of the Ferris Wheel.

1968 Pamphlet

At the time Mr. McBride wrote his book, publishing date 1979, the Lammas Fair, which has been been celebrated continually since the 17th century, was held the last Tuesday in August. Referred to in some places as the Auld Lammas Fair or the Ould Lammas Fair, the time of the event is now the last Monday and Tuesday in August. If held, the date for the fair, this year, 2021, will be the 30th and 31st. Cancelled in 2020 because of the Covid Virus, it is likely to be cancelled for the second year in a row.

If walking along the streets of Ballycastle and enjoying the Lammas Fair in person is not possible for you, there are other ways to savor the atmosphere of the County Antrim event that has delighted so many visitors for hundreds of years. For instance, there are many videos available, on YouTube, made by those who have attended the fair in the past. There are also recipes that can be found for Yella-man, the well-known treat made with honeycomb and brown sugar. If you are an arm chair traveler, there are many stories written about the fair and Ballycastle that can be found on the internet.

Then, too, there is the song written about the fair by a man who probably witnessed many Lammas Fairs over his lifetime. YouTube has shared many renditions of his tune, if you are interested in doing a search. If you happen to be a collector of music and would like the song in your collection, a CD by Ruby Murray, a popular Irish singer, is available for purchase. The story of the song and it's composer enhance the already interesting story of the centuries old Lammas Fair.

John McAuley's Shop on Ann Street

About a hundred years ago, there lived in Ballycastle a man named John Henry "The Carver" McAuley. On a dare made during his childhood, he had jumped off the Glenshesk Bridge into the river and broke his back. Incapable of strenuous work, to make his living, he had become a bog oak carver. Among other well crafted works of art, he created picture frames, animals, farm wagons and gypsy caravans.

Other than being acknowledged for his gifted wood carvings, John happened to be a well-known, talented fiddler. To the pleasure of the people passing by his shop on Ann Street in Ballycastle, he would often put down his tools and play rousing jigs and reels on his fiddle. Being a genius composer, as well as a master musician, his impromptu concerts would, as often as not, include a song of his own composition. Only one of his songs ever made it to publication, however.

In the 1920s, Sam Henry, a man who collected local folk songs, listened to and wrote down the words to a song McAuley was singing. He transcribed the music and published it in a local newspaper. The Oul Lammas Fair was soon issued as a pamphlet, and, since then, it has been recorded many times. John Henry McAuley died in 1937. He never knew how popular his tune about the Old Lammas Fair would become. A historic plaque, honoring his memory and the song that he wrote, is displayed at his old wood carving shop on Ann Street.

Lyrics to the song written by John Henry McAuley

Ould Lammas Fair

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

CHORUS
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
Chorus

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
Chorus