With just a few short days to go until the Irish Game & Country Fair At Birr Castle it’s all systems go for the biggest and best Irish Game and Country Fair & Fine Food Festival that Birr has ever seen say the event organisers.
Director Albert Titterington, the Downpatrick businessman driving the fair, explained why this year the Game Fair at Birr Castle is being taken to the next level: “Birr Castle’s game fair is already the top fair in the Irish Republic but this year the Fair has got bigger and much better as well, with so much more for the public to see and do.
“Historic Birr Castle is the backdrop and the public love the fair’s unique style. There are special treats in place for Birr this year, such as extra special non-stop entertainment, surprise acts and attractions, top competitions of all descriptions with enormous prize funds and of course a huge tented village of trade stands from Ireland and the UK.
“The public will be able to watch medieval jousting taking place in the shadow of the castle walls, where history really did occur in 1690 when Birr Castle was besieged by Patrick Sarsfield and the Duke of Berwick fresh from their success at the siege of Limerick. Although they had a large force camped at Banagher the attack was carried out by 160 infantry and depending on accounts three or four field pieces – one of which blew up and one which remains outside Birr Castle today.
“According to the Castle archives the infantry marched towards the castle ‘colours flying, trumpets sounding , drums beating and bagpipes playing…. the besieged hoisted a bloody flag on top of the castle, being determined to hold out until relief arrived.’
Albert Titterington added: “I am delighted to announce that George Logan will be there in person along with a team from Living History Ireland to bring to life scenes from this exciting action with musket and cannon roaring. The Living History Ireland re-enactors are no strangers to many international movie sets and will be unmissable at Birr as Redcoats and Rebels clash.”
The Great Game Fairs of Ireland team have a reputation for bringing living history and this will include Anglo Norman period with from the borders of Scotland the top UK medieval jousting team ‘the ‘Knights from the North’ and Cavan Instinctive Archers in their encampment in the walled garden will feature both medieval and Viking periods. These historical periods from Ireland’s Ancient East will be brought together in the Living History Village.
“It really will be history brought to life as the public will also be able to mix and mingle with all of the historical team, in period costume, in the Living History Village throughout the Fair.
“There are four key themes to each fair – country sports, country living, living history and fine food. This year all these facets are extended and enhanced to provide truly entertaining visitor experiences for the whole family and in fact anyone who lives, works or plays in the Irish countryside. And of course the beautiful Birr Castle Demesne with its world famous gardens and other attractions is the ideal location to host such a countryside spectacular,” said Albert.
Hunting, shooting, gundogs and fishing are always placed centre stage at the Great Game Fairs of Ireland featuring competitions with prize funds unrivalled in Ireland. In clay pigeon shooting there are three guns to be won including a top prize of a €3,300 Blaser Shotgun sponsored by Niall & Tom Kirwan from the Lakeland Shooting Centre and everyone who shoots in any competition goes in to a draw for a fabulous shotgun sponsored by Francesco Morelli from Casale 2000 Ltd.
Once again gundogs, terriers, lurchers and whippets provide fantastic international competitions and entertainment. And there are a huge number of attractions for the whole family including a children’s area, lots of have-a-go activities including archery and air rifle shooting; an action packed main arena programme sponsored by the NARGC and a huge tented village of trade stands packed with bargains and quality products including a Fine Food Pavilion with cookery demonstrations.
When you add in around 200 quality trade stands, countrysports demonstrations, fine food and cookery demonstrations by top chefs where you can sample fine artisan cookery, and a living history villages well as all the other day-long entertainment, it’s no wonder this will be the biggest and best fair ever to be seen at Birr Castle.
For further details see the special edition of:
www.countrysportsandcountrylife.com
www.irishgameandcountryfair.com
Or contact: E :irishgamefair@btinternet.com
or call 048 44839167 /44615416 or during the week leading up to the Fair 05791 20095/20096.
