To see a Meitheal master class in operation one just has to go to the nearly 400 year-old Spancil Hill Fair in County Clare.

Not for the first time, back in 1989, this ancient event was on its way to extinction when a dedicated group of local women and men pooled their efforts to revive it. With sometimes quirky plan A’s and plan B’s they have kept it going ever since.

The fair achieved extra worldwide renown through Michael Considine’s 1870 iconic song Spancil Hill that is every year sung at the grounds. Robbie McManon, who made it famous, died five years ago but the com-mittee would not let him be forgotten.

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They created a beautiful shrine to his memory at the Cross of Spancil Hill on the Ennis to Tulla road where the event has been held around 23 June ever since 1621. In that year King James I issued its first patent to one Valentine Blake.

Down the years, the fair has had both moments of great prosperity and near demise. In times of war sales would boom.

For example, in 1913 it is recorded that 1,175 remounts were bought for the British army. Then would come a slump and the fair’s very existence would again be thrown into doubt.

Revival

One of those slumps arrived with a vengeance in the late 1980s and it was only through an in-spired local effort that it again survived. In 1989 a committee of 20 headed by area vet Paddy Hassett was put together with the purpose of giving the fair new life. Showing classes were added and at the 1990 revival there were up to 50 entries in the young horse classes.

In keeping with the recent trend at shows around the country entries in the showing section have been concentrated on cobs, Connemaras and riding ponies. A major Connemara event may be the next plan B.

This past June, not only at the fair itself, but the festivities the night before attracted huge crowds. And there was plenty of business done. Mylie Cash’s “mile long lorry” went away full on the eve and returned to fill again on Fair day. To accommodate lorries and horse boxes this year a whole new field beside the traditional grounds was opened.

Insurance

As with all such traditional events, insurance has become a major stumbling block. However, the local committee has so far overcome this. They are determined to meet the challenges with their usual innovative efforts.

It is time that their initiative and meitheal be more fully recognised and supported on a national level. A fair like this one is not a threat to the sport horse world, it can be an asset.