CASTLEMAINE Events Committee will host Castlemaine Fair Day on Sunday October 16th in memory of the late John O’Donoghue.
The location of the Sheep Fair will be in Griffin’s Car Park and it will get underway from 10am.
After a very successful revival of the old fair day in Castlemaine in 2021 which saw huge crowds gather and over €40,000 raised from the event, the decision was taken to make it an annual event which will not only raise invaluable funds for the wonderful services which Kerry Hospice offer but it is also a means of keeping John’s memory alive for both his family and friends.
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All proceeds will once again be in aid of Kerry Hospice for the 2022 staging. There will be an auction on the day like last year where the donation of animals is most welcome.
Funds raised from the auction will go towards The Palliative Care Unit at University Hospital Kerry.
A raffle with some wonderful spot prizes on offer courtesy of sponsorship, bucket collections and kids’ entertainment will also be in operation throughout the day. As an addition to this year’s event there will be a pet show in the afternoon.
John O’Donoghue who was known all over resided in the heart of Castlemaine Village and was born on January 21st, 1965 which happened to coincide with a staging of the old Castlemaine Fair Day so it felt appropriate to mark John’s lifetime love of attending fairs and being an integral part of the farming community by bringing back the old fair day in his honour and with it celebrate old traditions, customs and beliefs in the locality.
Speaking about the event, John’s daughter Cathy said: “The fair day was an annual event in Castlemaine, but it died out in the 90s. This event is very important as it keeps my father’s memory alive as we approach the 3rd anniversary in January 2023.”
All queries surrounding the Fair Day can be directed to Castlemaine Events Committee by contacting 087-2549116 and further information is also available on the committee’s Facebook page.
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