Ballyclare May Fair

23/05/2023

INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT MORE ABOUT YOUR FAMILY HISTORY? Call in to the Town Hall TODAY between 11am and 4pm and ask the experts how.

• The Newtownabbey Branch of the North of Ireland Family Historical Society will be offering DNA testing and help with brick walls in your research. The Society will also be introducing the Branch’s Ballyeaston Project. Did your ancestors live in Ballyeaston during 1813 and attend 1st Ballyeaston Presbyterian Church? You could find out about them.

• Eddie’s Extracts will have the laptop charged up to help you look up the ancestor you've been searching for.

• Matthew Gilbert is looking for information about the Zingari Club formed in 1898 at the home of Dr. W. Clugston in Ballyclare. Have you information about Rev. E. Poole? In 1851 an offshoot of the Club was formed 'The Ballyclare Zingari Cycling Club'. Can you help Matthew with more information about this Club and the members who attended?

• Stephen Bell will again be looking for names of Ballynure residents on a large photograph he has. He also has some exciting news to tell you about Ballynure. Call with him to find out more.

• Evelyn Gardner will bring along some books about researching your family history.

• PRONI's Brett Irwin will show you how PRONI (Public Records Office Northern Ireland) can help with your research including Births, Marriages and Death records from local Churches and records about the area your family lived in.

• Etta Mann will help you look up records on her laptop and if anything is found you can go home with a photocopy of the information. Maybe this could start you on your journey of discovery about your ancestors? Etta will also be helping Martin with the Ballyeaston Project.

22/05/2023

💜🎼🎻Don't forget, the traditional eve of May Fair Day 'Rhymes & Ructions' is back TONIGHT at 7pm! It'll be a wonderful evening of poetry, stories, recitations, recollections and traditional music in the Town Hall hosted by Jack McKinney, with music by Shindig and the Knockagh Singers. Tickets cost just £6 and are available from Pots of Pleasure, or at the door, or you can buy online at https://theatreatthemill.com/book/?show=12601

22/05/2023

💜You can pick up a copy of local writer and historian Jack McKinney's highly acclaimed book on the history of the markets and fairs in Ballyclare during this year's May Fair for a special price of just £10. 'THEY CAME IN CARS AND CARTS', is a fascinating read, with 140 pages packed full of facts, stories and pictures that will bring back so many memories of the May Fair and the markets in the town. Copies are available at The Paper Shop or Jack will be at the Town Hall on Tuesday 23 May from 11am - 4pm and Wednesday 24 May from 11am - 1pm if you would like to buy a signed copy of the book.

18/05/2023

💚🚜🎉The May Fair Programme kicks off in real country style this Saturday with a spectacular Vintage Tractor Gathering and Farmers' Market in the Square. It'll be a wonderful opportunity to to see a fabulous display of classic tractors and engines organised by our good friends in the Ballyeaston Vintage Tractor Club, plus a special Farmers' Market outside the town hall. Call by this Saturday from 10am. It'll be vintage!

10/05/2023

💜Delighted to see the traditional eve of May Fair Day 'Rhymes & Ructions' evening back in the May Fair programme on Monday 22 May! It'll be a wonderful night of poetry, stories, recitations, recollections and traditional music hosted by Jack McKinney in our beautiful town hall. Tickets cost just £6 and are available from Pots of Pleasure, or online at https://theatreatthemill.com/book/?show=12601

26/04/2023

🚗🚘🏎🚚🚒THE COUNTDOWN IS ON TO THE 2023 BALLYCLARE MAY FAIR SOAPBOX DERBY🏁Always a highlight of the Ballyclare May Fair Programme, the Soapbox Derby is open to all home-made soapboxes, and there's still time to get your entry in for this year's event.
📅 Thursday 25 May, 6:30pm (6pm for competitors)
📍 Original Tile Car Park, Ballyeaston Road
Prizes:
🥇 1st Prize £250: sponsored by WJ Blair Accident Repairs
🥈 2nd Prize £160: sponsored by Modern Tyres Ballyclare
🥉 3rd Prize £100: sponsored by Ross's Joint
Additional prizes will be awarded for the best/most creative soapbox design and the best team showmanship 🧑‍🤝‍🧑🖌️

For race information, rules and to enter, go to 👇
antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk/ballyclaremayfair

Wow, what a marvellous evening. Wonderful crowd, great atmosphere, good fun. Just what the May Fair should be about.

12/04/2023

🚜💚🧅🥕🎉This year's Ballyclare May Fair Festival Week will launch on Saturday 20 May with a spectacular VINTAGE TRACTOR GATHERING in the Square car park hosted by our good friends in the Ballyeaston Vintage Tractor Club plus a traditional FARMERS' MARKET at the Town Hall. Should be a wonderful way to start a packed programme of events in the town from 20-27 May, so If you'd like to be involved in the Farmers' Market, email [email protected] by Friday 14 April and he'll be in touch.

15/02/2023

💚The Ballyclare May Fair 10k & 5k race entry is now LIVE🎉

Organised by our good friends in the County Antrim Harriers, the Ballyclare May Fair 10k & 5k Races will take place on Saturday 27 May starting at Ballyclare Rugby Club at 10am.

💚A special Early Bird Rate for entry is available until midnight on 31 March 2023 as below:

• 5k: £13 (ANI affiliated)/£15 (unaffiliated)
• 10k: £18 (ANI affiliated)/£20 (unaffiliated)

*A £1 admin fee is applied by Clubforce at time of booking*

💚The first 400 entrants will receive a technical t-shirt💚

ENTER NOW at
http://countyantrimharriers.co.uk/?page_id=5089