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Knockcroghery Fair & Festival. |
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Roscommon Historical Research is proud to be associated with this Festival. |
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Knockcroghery Fair & Festival is the modern representation of a
tradition that goes back to Medieval times when one of the local
O'Kelly clan was allowed to hold a fair in the village by Queen
Elizabeth I. During the nineteenth century fairs were held on the
22nd. August and the 25th. October each year, the October event
being a large sheep fair. By the middle of the twentieth century the
fair was being held in January and the last "Horse, Cattle &
Pig FAIR" was held on 3rd. January 1944. The following year
"The Roscommon
Champion" was reporting on the "First Annual Cattle &
Horse SHOW" which took place in Knockcroghery on 2nd.
January 1945. The prize for Best 1½ year old Colt at the show was won by T. Quinn of Kiltoom, with Michael Murray from Carrowmunia second and Patrick Treacy, Cloonmore, third. The prize for Best 1½ year old Filly was won by Martin Kelly from Cornalassan and James Menton of Ballagh was runner up. Best Working Horse award went to William Grady of St. John's, with Larry Walsh of Kilteevan second and Michael Lyons of Tubberogue third. Best Heifer - any class, was won by Patrick Lyons, Racecourse, with Edward Fallon, Ardmullen, second, Best Shorthorn Heifer prize was won by Joe English of Knockcroghery and Best Bullock - any class, was won by Patrick Lyons, Racecourse with Michael Naughton of Tullaghan runner up. The times may have moved on but even today these names will ring many a local bell! This fair finally petered out about 1972! The modern Knockcroghery Fair & Festival tradition dates from 1992 and consists of a weekend of fun, music and "craic" for all the family. This page shows images of most of the posters that have been used by the Fair Committee to publicise the event over the years. The earliest posters were pasted-up for local use and were small in number. We don't have originals from 1992 or 1993 (but special thanks to Eric Keegan for the images shown below). We also lack that of 1999. If you have any copies please contact us. The posters from 1992 to 1999 (our collection shown below right) were mostly designed by Batty O'Brien as were the mini-posters at the bottom of the page. From the turn of the century however, the posters have been a little less imaginative, relying on photographic images to draw the crowds. Below left is our collection of posters from 2000 to date. |
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2000 Poster. |
2001 Poster. |
1992 Poster. *
1993 Poster. *
1994 Poster.
1995 Poster.
1996 Poster.
1997 Poster.
1998 Poster.
To see more from Knockcroghery click on this link. |
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2002 Poster. |
2003 Poster. |
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2004 Poster. |
2005 Poster. |
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2006 Poster. |
2007 Poster. |
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2008 Poster. |
2009 Poster. |
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 2010 Poster. |
I need the 1992, 1993, & 1999 posters.
If you have a copy please contact us. Thank you. |
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 Poster for Dog Show at Knockcroghery Fair in 2005. |
 A certificate of participation for Knockcroghery Fair. (1996) |
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 Mini-Poster from 1993. *
Very special thanks to Eric Keegan, Batty O'Brien, John Murray, Tom Harney and the Festival Committee for help with putting this unique collection together. |
Mini-Poster from 1994.
items marked with * = image only, original required. Images are not to scale. |
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If you have any documents or ephemera relating to Knockcroghery Fair please contact us. |
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