Ballinasloe Horse Fair September 29TH – October 6TH 2024

Ballinasloe Horse Fair History

The Ballinasloe October Fair is one of Ireland’s oldest fairs and was once celebrated as the largest and most significant fair in all of Europe. While it is now primarily known for its horse trade, the fair originally served as a vital agricultural marketplace where farmers from the West sold cattle and sheep to buyers in the East.

Nineteenth-century newspaper accounts and travel writings provide ample evidence of the fair’s historical prominence. The London Times referred to it as “the largest of its kind in Europe” in 1804, “the greatest in the British Empire” in 1816, and “the largest one-day fair in Ireland” in 1829.

The fair’s ancient roots are also evident in the town’s original Irish name, Béal Átha na Sluaighe, meaning “Ford-Mouth of the Hostings.” This name highlights its historical role as a crossing point over the River Suck, where large gatherings occurred. Ballinasloe became a key hub for the trade of livestock from Connacht to Leinster, facilitating the sale of animals raised in the West to graziers in the East.

In the mid-twentieth century, as the importance of the October Fair began to wane, efforts to revitalize it emerged. In 1948, a committee was established to organize a carnival alongside the fair. Thanks to their dedication and the ongoing support from the community, the Ballinasloe October Fair has continued to thrive, standing strong where many others have faded away.