Cahirmee needs more horse sense

HAS anyone else noticed what a curious creature is the annual July 12 Cahirmee Horse Fair in Buttevant, Co Cork, and how delightfully complementary it is to our brethren in Northern Ireland who also hold that particular day dear to their hearts?

I can’t help but feel what a fantastic island nation we are where diverse sectors can come together and share in that wonderfully all-inclusive, all-Ireland pastime-for-a-day which is, in my non-equine, non-marching, non-participating and, indeed, nonplus opinion, little more than an excuse to bring our already limping economy to even further need of double hip and knee replacements.

The Cahirmee Horse Fair, in particular, involves closing the N20 Cork-to-Limerick road — the main south-western artery of the country, linking our second and third cities, along with our western seaboard and regional and international airports.

Such a deliberate closure is about as odd as the somewhat unlikely scenario of our nearest neighbours deciding to close the M6 between Birmingham and Manchester one day per year to allow a few flat-capped traders to pawn various equine species on their kinfolk on the motorway, while chip vans, stalls and the obligatory fortune-teller set up on the hard shoulder.

Who cares about those who must travel the N20 to work thereby sustaining tax revenue and jobs for the country? Sure, they’re grand. According to AA Roadwatch, they can make a detour that shouldn’t take longer than 40 minutes. All the inconvenience makes one wonder as to the true cost of this frivolity especially when added to the direct cost to the taxpayer of policing the event, organising and monitoring diversions, damage to small roads on the diversion routes, dangers to motorists and pedestrians travelling on roads not designed for the volumes of traffic shoved into them, erecting temporary fencing before the event to prevent illegal activity and then cleaning up the streets afterwards.

On a positive note, at least these costs are covered by the generosity of government, but what about the private sector costs to the local economy consisting of shops, pubs and other businesses forced to close or hire doormen to protect their livelihoods?

It makes one wonder whether any consideration is given to the greater good of society in these troubled times — or whether anyone cares.

I accept that, historically, this fair has been held in the middle of Buttevant since 1921, but surely it could revert to Cahirmee fair field a few miles outside the town?

At least our bowler-hatted colleagues in Northern Ireland have the courtesy and common decency to accept a change to their traditional routes every now and again.

Conchúir O’Maonaigh

Castle Park Ave

Mallow

Co Cork