Record crowds have turned out for the country's oldest horse fair in Ballinasloe, Co Galway.
The brisk horse trading on the fairgreen made up for the cancellation of last year's event for the first time in 280 years due to the foot-and-mouth outbreak.
The market town was thronged at the weekend with an estimated 40,000 people for the annual horse fair and festival, including traders and spectators from the UK and Scandinavia.
The committee threw their efforts into making this year's event one of the best ever with a big increase in the number of family-friendly activities and attractions.
The festivities ranged from dog shows and a fireworks display to bucking broncos and a display of falconry and owls.
Visitors could buy anything from a needle to an anchor at a variety of stalls plying their wares
The agricultural show at the fairgreen was a great success with entries up in all categories and horses, cattle, sheep, poultry and garden produce all ready and primed to attract the eye of the judges. Meanwhile, over at the showgrounds, the finest of brood mares, foals, coloured horses, cobs and hunters were on show.
A heritage display area recreated farming methods from times past such as coopering, rope-making and farriery, while a craft village showed the best of professional arts and crafts from the midlands and the west.
The highlight of the vintage parade was undoubtedly the South Roscommon Vintage Club's display of vintage machinery and threshing equipment, which went down very well with the crowd.
Festival co-ordinator Mr Colm Croffy said he was delighted with the success of this year's fair with record crowds turning up each day.
Although horse sales were quiet early on, trading picked up later and Mr Croffy was glad to say that despite the huge number of people in town, there had been very little trouble apart from a few minor disturbances.
The main streets of the town have been completely pedestrianised for the duration of the nine-day festival.
The launch of a new Garda CCTV van in Ballinasloe meant an extra eye was being kept on activities around the clock and the weekend passed off relatively peacefully.
