A Longford community is to revive its traditional horse fair, which has not been held for over 30 years.
The fair of Lanesboro was held on the streets of the town for over 300 years and was as famous in its time as those in Ballinasloe, Killorgan and Ballycastle.
It was traditionally held on February 12th and this year, after a break of 30 years, the fair will be part of the Lough Ree Environmental Winter School.
During the summer, the first Lough Ree Environmental Summer School attracted a great deal of attention and focused on the unique flora, fauna and traditions of the area.
The organisers were so encouraged by the local and national interest in the event that they decided to stage a two-day winter one to keep the impetus going.
The fair will feature horses, cattle and many other animals and will open on Friday 12th with a grand parade through the town, followed by a four-hour re-creation of the traditional event.
Most of the sights which would have been on view down the centuries will be there, including a working farrier and tinsmith and a special stall featuring traditional home cooking.
Environmentalist and broadcaster Dick Warner will be the host on a series of boat trips on the northern section of Lough Ree on Saturday 13th. He will be joined by local environmental scientist Cathryn Hannon, who will conduct two field trips with him to look at the wildlife on the lake.
Lough Ree has a unique place in the migratory paths of birds which winter or pass through Ireland. She is hoping to show the interesting wildfowl from the Arctic, Scandinavia and Siberia.
Large numbers of whooper swan and Greenland white-fronted geese winter on the lake and Cathryn hopes that a sighting of the now rare common scoters will be made during the event.
The weekend will also feature a concert by the Innyside Singers, an exhibition of equine paintings and two drama productions.
Hopefully, one event will not be seen on the streets of Lanesboro during the winter school - faction fighting between rival families and gangs, which was a common feature of the fair in the bad old days.
One of the most famous faction leaders, James Reynolds, a native of Curraghroe, near Lanesboro, died in Cavan workhouse in 1903. His involvement in faction fighting led to him being banished from his native place.
Details of the event and bookings from 043-21977.