The Ould Lammas Fair
2001 Images
Originating in the 17th century this event occurred at
Dunanyie
Head, now known as Castle Point where Silver Cliffs Holiday Park is
situated. Some say that the fair started out as a sheep market, others say that
it originated when Sorley Boy MacDonnell
ordered a celebration for his nephew. Either way it grew and migrated as Ballycastle
has developed in later years. It is now most famous for it's 'Dulse' - edible
seaweed that has been collected from local shores and dried out and 'Yellow
Man'
- a yellow candy similar in texture to toffee and taste of honeycomb.
Well over a hundred stalls ply their trade yearly with products ranging from
CDs, tapes, clothing, car accessories, tools, entertainment, souvenirs, sweets,
food, horses, ponies, household goods, etc...
 A ballad was composed 'The Ould Lammas
Fair' by John Henry MacAuley, the proprietor of the Bog Oak Shop in Ann Street, Ballycastle (now Dan McLister's
News agency & Toy
Shop). MacAuley was
a bog-oak carver and from his skilled hands came all sorts of small objects such
as round towers, pipe stands, ash trays, pen and ink stands, ornamental picture
frames, farm animals and various designs. Born on a farm in Glenshesk he was
expected to follow the farming tradition but when he was a child he met with an
accident which left him crippled. MacAuley was very musical and a well known
fiddle player. He wrote a number of songs but the only one to be published was 'The
Ould Lammas Fair'. He died in 1937 long before the song became popular.
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