Spancil Hill

If you know your Irish ballads, you will know that today – 23rd June – is ‘the day before the fair’, a reference to the great annual fair which was held annually on the 24th June in the county Clare village. It was made famous by the ballad ‘Spancil Hill’ which starts:

''Last night as I lay dreaming of pleasant days gone by
My mind been bent on rambling to Ireland I did fly
I stepped on board a vision and followed with a will
Til next I came to anchor at the cross in Spancil Hill" 

Here the Limerick Leader newspaper from June 1947 recalls this old fair and some of the traditions associated with it:

THE FAMOUS FAIR OF SPANCIL HILL

True to tradition, the second day of Spancil Hill Fair—Tuesday last —was wet (writes our Ennis correspondent). Rain pattered down steadily and relentlessly for the duration of the fair. The origin of the belief that the second day will always be wet dates back to an incident that occurred in olden times. According to old inhabitants, the fair was held on one occasion in brilliant sunshine. Supplies of liquor in the one local public house and two or three licensed tents ran out and those attending; the fair sought water to quench their thirst. One penny per glass! was charged for the water. Then, as the story goes, it was decreed by whoever regulates such matter that one of Spancil Hill's two days fair would be wet for ever more. This was done, apparently, to ensure that there would be a plentiful supply of water available free of charge in future! But all who attend the fair do not appreciate this kindly, thoughtful deed.

The fair is one of the biggest and most important in Co. Clare and a recognised annual meeting place for all kinds of people. It is not unknown for a farmer with stock to travel forty miles to attend Spancil Hill. In fact a Clare farmer Is not hall-marked as such until he has attended Spancil Hill Fair for a certain number of times. The eve of the fair, which is held on the road, is marked by dancing and jollification in which all classes of people take part, including travelling dealers, gypsies, vendors of collar studs and itinerant musicians with weird instruments which provide just as weird music

For more information search the pages of the Irish Newspaper Archive (www.irishnewsarchive.com )