Boley Fair Gallery
In the summer of 1985 former Chairman of the Boley Fair Committee, Brendan Murray was holidaying in the Ring of Kerry, and one evening accidentally came across the Puck Fair in Killorglin, County Kerry. Spending the next day at the Fair he realized that the whole event was based on a simple concept, a buck goat which was raised on a high platform for the duration of the fair and a series of events based around the then still common place sheep, cattle and horse fairs, with wheeling and dealing in the streets.
Brendan Murray, then put forward his ideas and got a mixed reaction. However, they realized if it was to work they needed more people involved so a second meeting was arranged. Approximately twenty people attended this meeting and they agreed to proceed with the idea of holding a fair in the village of Hilltown, County Down, forming a committee with Brendan as Chairman. The fair would be based on the concept of “strictly old” with nothing modern.
The next step was to find a name for the fair, so the newly elected committee organized a competition and advertised it locally. They received a lot of good ideas but were particularly taken with Aideen Lowry’s idea, “The Boley Fair”. Not being quite so sure what the term Boley meant, they called with Aideen’s father, Leo Lowry, who explained to them about the tradition of people taking the sheep and cattle to the mountains, building booley huts and staying up there all summer, dancing and singing to entertain themselves. The Committee felt this reflected all things that they wanted to be at the fair and Aideen’s entry was selected as the winner. The clock she received as a prize is still displayed in Lowry’s Bar today.
Initially, it was planned to hold the first Boley Fair the following year in 1987, but those involved were coming up with a lot of good ideas and it was decided to go ahead and hold the first Boley Fair in 1986. The first Boley Fair was well received and a huge success. The Committee built upon this success to hold the second Booley Fair in 1987, and one which Brendan considers to be one of the biggest overall.
The Boley Fair continued to run yearly until mid 1990’s, when having dwindled to a 3-day event it was put to rest for a while. In 2004 a group of interested local people got together again and revived the Fair and with much effort and determination has brought the traditions, past times and skills of the past to a new generation of young people in this area.
The Boley Fair committee would encourage everyone to enter into the full spirit of the festival by dressing in period costume showing our younger people the trendy attire our forefathers wore.
Last year there was a wonderful turnout of local people who got into the spirit of the occasion and donned traditional outfits, got out the old prams, carts, bicycles, tractors and trailers, you name it, it was there.
So why not search out some old fashioned clothing and get the family dressed up. Prizes will be given to the best old time dress in the categories of family, best dressed boy & best dressed girl at the opening parade. All entrants should assemble at the staging area for judging after the Parade finishes. After the success of last years “best float in the parade” category, once more entries are encouraged. Local businesses are all set to outdo the competition again so expect some spectacular entries in this category.
Boley Fair Committee 2011
Chairman - John Wilson
Vice-Chairman - Colm Carvill
Secretary - Anne McKeown & Martina Byrne
Treasurer - Seamus Mullan
Stewarding Officer - Sean Travers
Safety Officer - Bernard Mulholland
Additional Members: Gavin Carvill, Joe Farrell, Fergal King, Sean Milligan, Pauline O’ Hare, Oliver Rooney, Paul Smith and Sean Tumilty.
The Boley Fair Committee encourages local pubs, shops, etc. to decorate their premises and have their staff dressed in old time style.
Please note the Boley Fair Office and First Aid Station will be situated in Youth Club .
As you will appreciate there are times when an event cannot take place, bad weather conditions, performers falling ill, etc. We have tried to ensure that the Programme will run in full, but in the unfortunate case that an event has to be called off, postponed or changed, notices will be posted at the venue and on the Notice Board in the Youth Club.
All stalls and traders must be registered with the Committee. Strictly no hawkers.
