Organisers of the Ballinasloe Fair and Festival have cancelled the annual event for the second consecutive year.
The Ballinasloe Fair Co-ordinating Group issued a statement yesterday (Wednesday, July 14th, 2021).
A spokesperson said:
“The Ballinasloe Fair Co-ordinating Group have made the decision in the interests of public health and safety to officially cancel this year’s events on health and safety grounds.”
“The overall Ballinasloe Fair Co-ordinating Group plan to meet at the end of the year to make plans for 2022 and celebrate the 300th-anniversary.”
“After consultation with the HSE, the coordination committee was advised that it is unlikely that assurances could be given that we will have a return to normality with the removal of all Covid-19 restrictions for public and outdoor gatherings by October 2021.”
“The Co-ordinating committee would like to thank the local community, sponsors and all associations involved for their ongoing commitment and support.”
“We look forward to welcoming all participants and visitors to Ballinasloe Fair and Festival in 2022 for the 300th-anniversary.”
The co-ordinating committee comprises:
- Galway County Council;
- The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine;
- Order of Malta;
- ISPCA;
- An Garda Síochána;
- Ballinasloe Agriculture & Horse Show;
- An Garda Síochána;
- Ballinasloe Fair & Festival.
Deemed one of the oldest and biggest horse fairs in Europe, it attracts up to 80,000 visitors annually, being one of the town’s most important social and economic week-long events.
Organisers also cancelled last year’s event in light of the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic.
Events cancelled due to Covid-19
Meanwhile, organisers of the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival have cancelled the event for the second consecutive year due to Covid-19.
The legendary match-making event, which is deemed to be Europe’s biggest singles festival, attracts thousands of people from 18 to 80 every September.
Organisers believe the cancellation of the festival for the second year in a row comes at the cost of approximately €2 million to the local economy. Read more on this.
Furthermore, organisers of the Rose of Tralee International Festival have also cancelled this year’s event.
This is the second time in its 62-year history that the event will not occur due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
