Another Version of the famous Ould Lammas Fair Poem
The Lammas Fair
It’s Tuesday late in August with Autumn on the way
As Ballycastle wakens to greet another day
But today is rather special, feeling the magic in the air
The wild anticipation for today’s The Lammas Fair
The stalls are getting ready now, putting goods out on display
And the cattle trucks are grinding, way down the Tanyard Brae
See the cars, the vans and tractors, bus loads from everywhere
They come here in their thousands for every Lammas Fair
Let me see who’s in The Diamond, have they come here in the past
There’s the rope man and the delph man and wee Jeannie from Belfast
They offer dulse and yellow man, an apple or a pear
The wasps are in their glory, as they enjoy The Lammas Fair
The woman search for bargains while the men go for a beer
Several boats from Rathlin now are landing at the pier
The Salvation Army music plays, the people stand and stare
They’ve come to save the sinners’ soul here at The Lammas Fair
The sun is hot the sea is blue there are children on the sand
And an ice-cream queue for a mile or two at the café called The Strand
Candy floss and paper haats and swing boats in the air
Are full of yelling youngsters, how they love The Lammas Fair
Now this lovely day has passed away the sheep and cattle sold
And Mary Anne has got her man as she did in days of old
The young folks slowly amble home in close and loving pairs
Many happiness surround them, for many Lammas Fairs.
Author – Unknown
October 2013
