*Photograph: Bob Singer.
INSURANCE COVER will be provided to allow the Spancilhill Horse Fair proceed this year.
The Clare Echo has learned an agreement has been reached between Clare County Council and IPB Insurance to allow the iconic fair to take place this year. A breakthrough in saving the Fair which takes place on the 23rd of June was made by the local authority in recent days with the Council to provide the insurance for 2022.
Chief Executive of Clare County Council, Pat Dowling on Monday evening stated, “All I can do is confirm the Fair will be going ahead in June”. He said the local authority must continue to “nurture positive relationships” with insurance companies, “we need them for lots of events and the public work we do”.
Fears had been expressed in the Dáil last week by Clare TD, Michael McNamara (IND) that difficulties posed by Brexit and rising insurance costs had put the future staging of the Fair in doubt.
King Charles first granted a charter for the Spancilhill Fair in 1621. The event did not take place in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. Horse buyers from all over the country and Europe attend the well-known fair.
Its running was threatened in the 1920s due to a legal dispute between the Ennis Urban Council and the owners of the. Prior to COVID-19, the only previous cancellation was due to the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001.
Spancilhill was recently included in Ireland’s National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Speaking on Monday, Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) outlined the difficulties volunteers had in obtaining insurance for the Fair, “I am concerned that we would lose a very important part of our heritage”.
Praise for the personnel involved in keeping Spancilhill Fair alive over the past 400 years was voiced by Cllr PJ Kelly (FF). “Originally it is where the British Army came to buy horses, in latter years showjumpers came over and brought horses that made their name abroad, it is very international with buyers coming from all over Europe. When Spancihill is mentioned, Clare is on the map and so on and so forth”.
Worldwide recognition of Spancilhill “in the equine side of it” was noted by Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF) while he described the Fair as “a huge benefit to the county”. Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) recalled Robbie McMahon singing the infamous ballad before the Council Chamber in years gone by, he said challenges to insurance hurdles had been met to allow the Irish Open be held in Lahinch in 2019 and they must continue to be found to protect the Fair.
“We can’t let this go, it can’t be let go, we’ve lost enough in rural Ireland and we have to hold onto this tradition,” Cllr Pat Burke (FG) stressed. Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) said Spancilhill Fair was “something the people from rural parts and all parts of the country look forward to attending”.
It’s time to tackle insurance companies, Cllr Pat Daly (FF) insisted, “I would love to have a go at these insurance companies, there are so many events that haven’t been able to go ahead”. He quipped that Taylor Quigley would be attending the 2022 Fair. Cllr John Crowe (FG) commented that Spancihill Fair was “part of the heritage of Co Clare,” he added, “insurance companies are ruining this country and we need to stand up to them”.
A fund was established to keep playgrounds open, a similar model should be explored to save community events, Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) argued.
