Ould Lammas Fair facts for kids
The Auld Lammas Fair is a very old and traditional fair. It takes place every year in Ballycastle, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. You can visit it on the last Monday and Tuesday of August. This special event is connected to the Lammas harvest festival, which celebrates the first harvest of the year.
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History of the Fair
The Auld Lammas Fair has a long and interesting history. It has been happening for almost 400 years! The fair first started way back in the 17th century. This makes it one of the oldest fairs in all of Ireland.
What You Can Find at the Fair
At the fair, you can find many different things for sale. People traditionally sell farm animals like livestock. But the fair is also famous for its unique traditional foods.
Traditional Treats
Two very popular treats at the fair are Yellowman and dulse.
- Yellowman is a special kind of candy. It's a local version of honeycomb. It's sweet and crunchy, and many people love it.
- Dulse is a type of edible seaweed. It might sound unusual, but it's a traditional snack. People often eat it dried.
The Fair's Famous Song
The Auld Lammas Fair is so well-known that it even has its own song! A local shopkeeper named John Henry MacAuley wrote a special ballad about the fair. This song helped make the fair even more famous.
About John Henry MacAuley
John Henry MacAuley was a talented person. Besides being a shopkeeper, he carved things from bog-oak. He was also a very good fiddler. Sadly, he passed away in 1937. His song about the fair became very popular after he died.
