The first charter for this historic fair was granted by King Charles over 300 years ago. In the past the fair lasted for a week or more with people coming from all over the world. The Newmarket-on-Fergus native also writes for national papers including The Irish Examiner, The Irish Independent and The Irish Times along with doing work for RTÉ, Today FM, TheJournal.ie and The42.ie. Spancel Hill is in the townland of Muckinish, civil parish of Clooney, and barony of Bunratty Upper. The 2021 event will mark the 400th anniversary and organisers are hopeful some form of normality will have returned by next June. Horse buyers from all over the country and Europe attend the well-known fair. Kilmurry Ibrickane have qualified for their tenth Clare SFC semi-final in twelve
No Irish sing-along is complete without a rendition of Spancil Hill.It’s subject matter is a familiar one in the Irish ballad tradition; emigration, and tells of the longing an emigrant has for his home in Spancil Hill.The name of Spancil Hill comes from the ancient horse fair that takes place there every June.

History. 1,175 horses were purchased on that day on behalf of the British army by a Mr Robinson. It’s tradition dates back to the 1600s. History; The Song; Contact Us; Select Page. 'Spancil Hill' (Michael Considine) Performed by Paddy Reilly Stair na hÉireann/History of Ireland.

Spancil Hill Lyrics: Last night as I lay dreaming of pleasant days gone by / My mind being bent on rambling to Ireland I did fly / I stepped on board a vision and I followed with a will / Till next I
It being the 23rd June the day before the fair When lreland’s sons and daughters in crowds assembled there The young and the old, the brave and the bold their journey to fulfill There were jovial conversations at the fair of Spancil Hill. Photograph: Gary Collins Travelling to Cusack Park or Foot and mouth led to the cancellation of the 2001 event which is the only other time in its history that it has been cancelled. In recent times it has evolved into a one day show and fair where the … Born in Spancil Hill in 1850, Considine took himself off across the Atlantic in search of a better life at the age of 20.Considine spent his first few years of emigration in Boston before moving west to follow the gold rush in California. It is held annually on 23 June. Spancil Hill Fair has been called off for only the second time in its history. Observance of the Sabbath would take precedence over the fair which would've started a day late, the 24th. *Orlaith Duggan. The name of Spancil Hill comes from the ancient horse fair that takes place there every June. Historically, fairs were held on 1 January, 3 May, 24 June, 20 August, and 3 December. Spancilling was an old and rather cruel practise in which a rope was used to tie a horse’s left fore leg to its right hind leg in order to stop it from wandering off. The ballad of Spancil Hill was written by Michael Considine who did wander off. Spancilhill Fair 2020 CANCELLED . Organisers have confirmed that the popular fair scheduled to take place on Tuesday June 23rd will not be going ahead admitting that the decision to cancel was “unavoidable” with current health restrictions. In recent times it has evolved into a one day show and fair where the leading horses in the country are presented. In 1913, British and Continental cavalry forces bought over 1,000 horses there. Back-to-back champions St Joseph’s Miltown finally got off the mark for this Future visit to Castlecomer Discovery Park influential for Kilrush Woods development Elected representatives have stressed that levels of overcrowding cannot be let return Although its air quality readings have left a lot to be desired, Clare may soon be Páraic McMahon is Head of News & Sport with The Clare Echo. Spancil Hill fair always took place on the 23rd of June.