The National Country Fair boasts everything from aircraft stunts to welly throwing, writes Grania Willis
Wing walkers? Spey casting? Jive pony? Head shaking? The last in that list is me trying to make sense of these incomprehensible terms - all of which are on offer at the National Country Fair, in Emo, Co Laois, next weekend. Other highlights include ferret racing, sword fights for the under-13s, sheaf tossing, welly throwing, a monster mural and clay-pigeon shooting. If it's to do with the countryside, you'll find it in the grounds of the late 18th-century house of Emo Court.
When the country fair started, at Birr Castle in 1999, it attracted about 5,000 visitors. This year, at its new home, up to 40,000 are expected - and it's not just locals. Some of the world's best anglers, for example, will be beating a path to Emo Court, lured by the €1,500 first prize in the angling competition.
Scott Mackenzie, whose Christian name happens to give away his nationality, has broken the world record for the longest cast at the fair for the past two years (more than 55 metres in 2005). He'll be back for another crack at it. But what's Spey casting? Scotland's Spey River is not the easiest water to fish, because of outcrops and trees that can snare lines. Spey casting was developed by removing the backcast - the backwards flick of the line that gives the fly the impetus to whizz over the water before landing - which enables anglers to avoid lurking foliage.
And wing walkers? An English aerobatics team is flying two fixed-wing aircraft to Co Laois for an eye-catching stunt in which a woman will stand on the wings of each aircraft for a series of rolls and other manoeuvres. One plane will fly upside down, so near its partner that the two women can touch hands.
That's pretty scary. But so is the thought of under-13s having sword fights with a knight. It's part of the Country Fair Challenge. Open to six- to 12-year-olds, it includes archery, welly throwing and sheaf tossing. At the falconry marquee, children will have a chance to handle the birds. For budding artists, there's the monster mural, a six-metre piece of plasterboard crying out for paint.
So what about the jive pony? He's a six-year-old Highland pony called Ronan owned by Rebecca Townsend, Britain's unbeaten vaulting champion and former circus performer. The 28-year-old, along with her commentator sister, Louise, and "glamorous assistant" Duncan Green, will be offering what she calls "a hybrid of vaulting and trick riding", along with a spot of equine ballet.
Seamus Erwin, in charge of the ferret racing, doesn't agree with animals being made to do things they aren't bred for. "We don't make fun of our ferrets or make them do tricks," he says. They put two ferrets into five-metre plastic tubes, to race to the end. "The tubes simulate burrows," says Erwin. "Some ferrets are naturals and they just fly through, but others need to be trained."
How do you train a ferret? Aren't they vicious? If you handle them from an early age they're fine, apparently. But a ferret that hasn't been handled will lock on to your fingers, which Erwin says is painful. "It's one of the worst shocks you can get," he says. "It's even worse than gardaí coming up behind you with the light flashing. It makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck."
The National Country Fair is at Emo Court, Co Laois, on June 4th and 5th. More details from 051-644687 or www.countryfair.ie