|
Extract
from Derry Journal 18th of August 1775
|
| Cloghanbeg. A patent has been
granted for several fairs and monthly markets to be held
annually for ever, in or at the town of Cloghanbeg, the
fairs to be held on the first of February, 19th of May,
28th August and the 19th of November, and the monthly
market to be held on the first Monday of every month.
This grant was issued to Sir Robert Style and Colonel
William Style and was customs free for the first seven
years. |
|
|
Peter Mulrine's Lorry
in Brockagh Village, some 70 years ago.
P.Mulrine & Sons, Ballybofey, is still going strong
. |
The fair was transferred to Cloghanbeg in 1874. As happened
at Dungloe, where the fair brought the name Dungloe
from the old site into An Clochan Liath.
Our fair, which was formerly held in the Coyle area of Brockagh
townland, brought the name Brockagh with it to the new site,
the village which is now in the townland of Cloghanbeg.
The fair was held in the cow market, which was always owned
by the occupier of Glenmore Castle, also in the townland of
Cloghanmore.
The monthly fair was held on the 19th, except the August
fair, which was on the 25th. Some dealers used to come on
August 19th by mistake. Many years ago the fair was policed
by Big Boyce. Whenever he found two men fighting, he quelled
the disturbance by catching one in each hand and throwing
them over the hedge into the adjoining field.
A man in the Croaghs had a stick fighting school, where young
men came and stayed in his home for a number of days, preparing
themselves for faction fights in Brockagh fair and elsewhere.
|
Did You Know?
|
|
Brockagh is derived from the Gaelige, Brocach, meaning
Badger-field, and Cloghan (Clochan) - meaning Stony
place.
|
Drovers walked long distances to drive cattle from the fair.
Such as Langan and Scott reached Brockagh shortly after nine
o'clock, having walked from Letterkenny via Cark (where
the windfarms are now situated). A man named Kelly
from Killygordon played the fiddle at the fair and sang ballads
and then sold the ballad sheets through the fair.
Peter Harte offered three shots a penny to knock down Dolly
by kicking a tied football. There was a prize for the one
who was able to do so. When the young lads annoyed him with
unofficial kicks, he used to say "Oh now, give the oul
man a chance."
People with 'standings' (stalls)
selling apples, dulse etc. included Mrs. Lynch and Roddy Mulholland.
McCormacks, Devenneys and other houses provided meals.
Dealers in stock who came there to buy included Nee, Strain,
Begley, King, McDonnell, Carson and Lafferty. Men who had
been drinking at the fair used to come to Brockagh the day
after - for a cure. That day was known as 'The Oul
Fair day'. There were stalls of second hand clothes - men
such as Hanlon had patter to draw the crowd. Then there was
McCallig from Mayo who dealt mainly in delph.
|
