Ireland Birr Game Fair A Huge Success

[AlbertJ 569]

The Birr Game fair staged on the 27th & 28th September was the 60th Game Fair organised by the Great Game Fairs of Ireland since we launched the Fairs in 1979 to promote and defend all country sports in Ireland. It was a huge success with the largest number of traders ever, a tremendous prize fund, brilliant weather and good crowds - record on Saturday and not far off a record on Sunday. Most trade exhibitors had great bargains on offer and all traders were delighted with the huge turnout of people and many posted record sales. Photographs of the huge crowds will be posted on our facebook page.

 

The gundog competitions went well and the international ended up with a good NI team pipping a strong Welsh team who had taken the honours at our Shanes Castle Fair earlier in the year.

 

The Clay shooting in the Mount Palmer side of the site had a record number of guns shooting for some excellent prizes and the layout is one of the best in Ireland as if affords shooters excellent 'ringside' parking.

 

Terriers, Lurchers and whippets were well catered for also with not only good prizes for the racing and show over the two days but with the grand finals of the Five Nations Championships being staged in the main arena - each with over €1,000 in prizes to be won and all qualifiers getting free admission to the fair. We were delighted to have the IWTF exhibit with us.

 

The terrier, lurcher and whippet area was also on the Mount Palmer side of the estate. Some have queried why it is sited there - quite simple there is nowhere on the Castle side of the grounds that can accommodate c 250 - 300 yards for racing and ringside parking. The clay shooters have NEVER complained about being afforded similar facilities ( albeit a bit further from the main site).

 

Some years ago terrier & lurcher competitors requested that they be allowed to camp at Birr. We do not have ANY camping on the main site as it is a private residence BUT we did ask the local publican who owns an adjoining field, which we hire, if he would allow camping in the field. When he agreed we supplied the basic facility of a portaloo. Obviously people can choose whether they wish to 'rough camp' here, seek other accommodation or travel.

 

The only real complaints we and the Garda have had over the years about the fair come from the public concerned about young pups being sold and also dogs in poor condition. This year we addressed these complaints - a person selling gundogs in the main car park was removed with the total approval of the gundog fraternity. A person attempting to sell what appeared old, infirm and unwanted dogs of a terrier/lurcher type was also asked to leave. Apparently some in the terrier/lurcher fraternity have sympathy with this individual and have attempted to foment complaints about virtually everything to do with the fair including the removal of this person, location of their events etc.etc.

 

To put this into perspective - There have been no complaints from the clay shooters about their position between the area where the terriers & lurchers race and show and where we provide free camping facilities nor the gundog fraternity about the removal of a gundog dealer. NOR have there been complaints from the club running the terrier & lurcher events with whom we work to prepare the ground for the event - all other sports prepare their own ground.

 

All of these complaints should be looked at in the context of what we are trying to do i.e. working with ALL of the countrysports organisations including the Irish Working Terrier Federation - to PROMOTE and DEFEND countrysports in Ireland. We think the fair does this very well and certainly much better than a dog dealer selling apparently unwanted , poor conditioned animals of doubtful origin in public or complaints from his 'allies'.

 

Now with a successful fair over we are moving on to our next event at Ballynahinch, Co Down on the 24/25 September as far as I am concerned no further debate on Birr 2016.

Edited September 3, 2016 by AlbertJ

[Mary 352]

Albert, I asked in a previous post what the attendance was over both days?

[Mixedgrill 704]

I bet it's the lowest yet

[nans pat 2,575]

see the mystery seller has now appeared on a dog site on f/b with his side of the story,complete with photos of the dogs he was selling,

all the dogs are in good condition,weight,coats ect.

so theres allways 2 sides to every story,i know genuine doggy men will always take a hunting mans word over an anti grouping who had no place to be at the show in the first place.

[peterhunter86 8,627]

I was there on the sat their was a fella who had lurchers,spaniels and a few terriers most of them were rough as fook is that the fella everyones talking about.

[shaneg 2,578]

That's the same lad. What sight is it on on Facebook

[peterhunter86 8,627]

He deserved to be fooked out so.

[nans pat 2,575]

He deserved to be fooked out so.

along with the antis of course.

[peterhunter86 8,627]

 

He deserved to be fooked out so.

 

along with the antis of course.

 

Of course but they shouldnt be let in the first place but if they wernt let in they would of just came in plain clothes and went out of thier way to cause trouble for lads.