A Fairday in Taghmon - Tom Williams, 1997

Before the marts took over in the 1960s, one of southern Ireland’s greatest fairs took place in Taghmon, a village located approximately 14 kilometres west of Wexford Town. Twice a month, farmers, buyers and 'tanglers' came from all over the southeast to buy and sell cattle, sheep, pigs and horses. The biggest fairs were held on the 2nd and 28th of May when crowds of up to 10,000 people thronged the streets. This song recalls what it was like in the little village on fairday, and recounts some of the characters who enlivened the proceedings.
Written by the late Irish singer-songwriter, Tom Williams, from Taghmon, County Wexford. Performed here by the author at the 1,400 celebration of the village in Taghmon in 1997. For more on Tom Williams, visit www.tomwilliams.ie.