Horse fair’s bit of magic is priceless

Burren farmer Micheal Barry was not having too many takers for his two horses in the fairgreen at Spancilhill Horse Fair, but he said "the fair still holds the magic".

Yesterday, thousands converged on Spancilhill outside Ennis for the annual June 23 fair and Mr Barry, a farmer from Boston, Tubber, north Clare, said he had one bid the previous evening for one of his horses.

Standing with his gelding and mare at the sun-kissed fairgreen, he said: “The bid was €730 for the gelding and I was looking for €850 and I’m half sad now I didn’t take it.”