Entertainment and the Arts
Bonamh Market - 22 Aug 2015
By Michael Baynes & Frank McHale
19, Aug 2015 - 22:28

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After the success of last year's Bonamh Market, we are delighted to announce that we will be hosting it again on Saturday August 22^nd in Rush Street.  We are running it in conjunction with Mayo Heritage Week and are joining up with Craftworks Mayo | Ceardaíocht Mhaigh Eo to showcase the best of Mayo products - ‘Déanta i Maigh Eo'.

Last year, we brought back to life, for one day, the traditional pig market that used to take place in this street every Saturday years ago.  In those times, men and women, and sometimes children, would come to Rush St and sell their pigs, calves, cabbage, etc.  This market was very much a part of Castlebar and many great characters passed through there.  Again, this year on August 22nd, the traders of the street will relive this part of Castlebar's past. The characters will be back again with their wares: the street will be set up like a market.  The forge will be there, along with a thatcher, basket weaver, food stalls etc.  The centrepiece will be a "pig on the spit".  There will be musicians playing on bales of hay, dancers dancing and plenty of fun to make this a great day out for everyone.  Beidh ceol, damhsa agus craic, mar sin bígí linn! Macra Na Feirme will be in attendance and they will have plenty of novelty games with a farming twist for all to try out.  There will be face painters, bouncy castles, Elvery's football challenge and a display of old cars, old tractors and farm machinery.

To extend the fun, there will be events in the evening.  For the first time ever in Castlebar, the committee will host the Bonamh Market Piggy Grand Prix!!  This is an evening of fun pig racing.....rásaíocht mhuc!  It is run like a "race night", except specially trained pigs will be running, or more like trotting, instead of virtual horses.  Many towns have this during the summer, but this is Castlebar's first time.  Pigs are available to buy at €30 each in any of the 6 pubs on the street.  Groups of 4 and 5 can chip in to own one, and pick a name and even the jockey's name!!  After all the excitement of this evening's race meeting, there will be music on the street until 11.30pm.

There will also be a busking competition during the day with €150 in prizes sponsored by McDermott House Furnishers.  All street performers welcome.  One of the hits from last year was the appearance of the Garda Mounted Unit and we are delighted to announce they will be here again this year.

The market dates way back and Castlebar locals remember it fondly.  One source says Rush Street is so called because rushes were spread on the road to absorb the droppings of the animals.  The calf market was centered around the Rush
St/Charles St. area long after the original fairs ended.  The Bonamh Market was intermingled with the calf market.  Old Moore's Almanac used to refer to the fairs at that time in the town.  A baby chick market was held as well as a dillisk stall on the bridge.  Large trucks full of clothes used to park and sell the stuff off the back.

Bígí linn ag an Margadh Banbh chun an chuid seo de stair Chaisleán an Bharraigh a athbheochan - beidh ceardaíocht, bia, agus spraoi ann!

Frank McHale
Secretary,  Rush Street Traders

On behalf of:

Morans - Bar One - The Harp - Flynns - Bodhrán - Stacks