Horse traders nostalgic for Tiger years

THE SUMMER sunshine could not stop a pall of gloom descending over sellers on the fair green at the annual Spancilhill Horse Fair yesterday, where sales were scarce and prices were poor.

Standing near the centre of the fair green holding a Connemara filly and a three-year-old donkey, Robert O’Donoghue remarked: “This teaches you patience.”

The Limerick man had been standing in the green for over three hours seeking €1,200 for the donkey and €1,000 for the filly.

Yesterday thousands descended on the field a few miles from Ennis, Co Clare, where Mr O’Donoghue said: “The selling is a lot quieter than before with the recession, no money and there being a lot of bad horses around the country.

“There was a major horse dealer standing here this morning with two mares and foals who before here at the fair had bought an articulated truck of horses within two hours.

“I said to him, ‘You wouldn’t be used to this now’, and he responded, ‘I’ll have to get used to it’.”

On the way in, Lisdoonvarna’s matchmaker, Willie Daly, lightened the mood. “It is like going to a dance and a young fella sees a girl across the hall and it could be instant love. This is how a horse is sold.”

The Ennistymon man said: “It is all about what catches a person’s eye. There is such a thing as falling in love with a horse. There is always the possibility.”

Willie recalled walking horses to the fair over a 19-mile distance from outside the north Clare town of Ennistymon when he was 11.

He said: “I have been coming here since I was a young fella. Last year was the first time I missed the fair when I was up the country making a match for a 73-year-old man and 23-year-old woman. I had to be there.”

Asked was the match successful, Willie said: “They have a little baby now, which is nice. It was worth the extra effort. It was a good day’s work – as good as selling a horse.”

Down on the fair green, horse seller Peter Marron of Carrickmacross said: “The price of horses are like houses – only worse.

“Prices are half the price they were last year. The horse I am selling would have been worth €3,000 last year. Today, I’m asking for €1,800 and hoping to get €1,500.”

One of the judges yesterday, Bill Larkin, said the fair “retains its appeal. It has a special part in Irish life”.

Waiting for a buyer on the fair green, Michael McMahon from Gort said: “Business is not great. There are no buyers, everybody is minding their money, they are not spending.”

Dealer Johnny Cross said: “I have sold a few. I’m happy enough.

“It is easy get the price you want in your head, hard to get it in your pocket.”

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