Dunderry Fair Review

jimmace

My family and I attanded Dunderry fair yesterday, for the first time. Ample parking was provided in some fields, but it was a bit of a walk for anyone with mobility problems. A big crowd was in attendance. I was firstly surprised by the €10 enterance fee for adults, (teenagers €5, under 12's free). It seems a bit steep, just to gain entry, but then again it is for charity. In my naivity I thought that many attractions would be free after paying such a hefty price just to enter the village, but was dissapointed on this score too. On entering there is a good buzz about the place, loads of food stalls, craft makers and general hawkers. There was also a small fairground. All rides etc, cost more money. The setup is fairly good, with 3 stages of live traditional and c&w music. There were many selling poultry, a few pigs, horses, cattle,sheep, goats, rabbits, and dogs. Now in some cases I thought it would be beneficial for the organisers to have invited the ISPCA along, to ensure that proper standards were being kept. I witnessed dogs tied to trailers, or in small cages, and one particular case of young ducks packed into a cage, and hardly one feather on their backs, as they were all picking at each other.
With regard to a tradional country fair, I think this has lost its way slightly. it was row upon row of food stalls, and various sellers and little demarkation between who was raising money for charity, and who was there for personal profit. The Travelling Community were very well represented, through tinsmiths, old horse drawn caravans, and a multitude of stalls and livestock sellers. There were vintage cars and tractors. With regard to country crafts I saw basketmaking, pottery, stool making, butter churning, and sheep shearing. If this is supposed to be a traditional country fair, then emhasise that aspect, not the hawkers etc. A mixed bag of a day really, an hour would have done me. If the charitable aspect was emphasised, and more attractions inside designated to this, I think they could drop the enterance fee, and people would spend more inside. Would I go back again? Unlikely, its just more of the same, a bit like a mini Ballinasloe without all the horses.:(

Conor_M1990

to be honest its really just an excuse for a pissup most years same stuff every year

pullandbang

Think you're contradicting yourself a bit there. On the one hand you naively thought the attractions would be free after paying your tenner in, then you go list all the free attractions, including three live music stages and a host of craft exhibitions, vintage machinery etc.
How you could see it all in an hour is beyond me. I was there from 12.30 until after 5pm and I could have stayed longer. It was a fantastic event and was incredibly well organised and presented. Not sure what your complaint about the dog tied up is - they are supposed to be tied up - not let run wild around the place and what difference does it make if they are tied to a trailer or tied to their owners hand via a lead?