Clothes horses can mark Ballinasloe's Great October Fair down in their diaries - and that's official. For the second year in a row, Wellington boots were superfluous on the fair green as some 70,000 people, horses, ponies and donkeys basked in mid-teen temperatures.
"Truly marvellous" was how Fianna Fáil MEP Liam Aylward described the nine-day event, which he opened yesterday afternoon. Joining him for the ceremony were representatives of the Ballycastle and Killorglin fairs from Antrim and Kerry respectively.
Haggling, trading and handshaking mark the first two days of the fair, which dates back to the 1700s when cattle and sheep were traded under the patronage of the Earl of Clancarty. The annual event took on a new status in following centuries as the demand for cavalry horses for European armies grew - while farmers always required good working stock until the advent of the tractor.
Equestrian events yesterday included the all-Ireland pony, cob and horse of the fair lunging competitions, while Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was on hand to monitor animal welfare.
For the second year in a row, the fair organisers issued a warning that trading in small animals such as dogs, cats and chickens is prohibited.
The practice is illegal under national legislation, but can be difficult to enforce at an event of this type.
The Ballinasloe Horse Fair continues until next weekend, and traffic restrictions will be in place throughout the week.