Dunmore Market Day draws large attendance

YOUNG and old were out in force as the Dunmore Annual Festival hosted its most popular event - Market Day.

While dark clouds dominated the skies, the weather largely played ball for a second year running. Visitors enjoyed a warm day with little rainfall as they perused the stalls, leading to bumper crowds congregating in the square within an hour of opening.

The smell of food is what will have first greeted visitors arriving from the church end of the town, the burger stall being in full swing. However, most were heading for something a bit lighter on this fine day: Cally, a traditional dish which is a mix of mashed potato, scallions and butter.

Manning the booth when The Tuam Herald passed by were cousins Elenor Halliday, Frances Coleman and Anne Gannon, while back in the kitchen whipping up more Cally was Brigid Coleman.

They were hopeful of once more selling out 20 kilos worth of Cally, with all the money they raised going to Croí and towards the cost of a local defibrillator.

There were plenty of stalls to please everyone as they walked through the square, with anything from toys and ornaments to artwork, perfume and jewellery available to purchase. There was even an opportunity to buy shower heads, something that can’t be said about many rural markets.

One of the many selling points of Dunmore Market Day is the opportunities it gives children in the area to make some money by manning a stall too. As usual, they were all given prime locations right in the centre of the square. Many also used this as an opportunity to raise money for charity.

Everything from handmade jewellery and artwork to old books and Pokémon cards were available to buy, while many other stalls tried to take advantage of visitors sweet teeth.

Among them was Saorla Waldron, an 11-year-old Dunmore girl attending Garrafrauns NS. Her stall had many baked goods made by her mother, alongside some concoctions of her own.

“I got some marshmallows and decorated them myself. I made 24 and they have been selling well. Half the money we raise is going to the Children’s Hospital so hopefully people are generous,” said Saorla.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Market Day in Dunmore without a few animals, their presence remaining the highlight for so many visitors. Big crowds congregated outside of the old Dunmore Abbey to look at the chickens, hens, goats and dogs, as well as a group of young ducklings who had a slide to enjoy.

When they were not in the mood to use it, they got some light encouragement from four-year-old Fionn Ward, leading to them all sliding down one by one, much to the amusement of the crowds.

Speaking of amusement, one thing missing from the 2026 festival was the funfair. It had been based beside the local veterinary clinic in recent years, but a new housing development at this site meant it could no longer be facilitated there.

Alongside the stalls, visitors to Market Day could also enjoy several demonstrations showcasing skills people may have never seen in action before.

Vanessa Silke, Betsie Maloney and Josie Silke were on hand to show visitors how to churn butter. Every 45 minutes they had turned cream into butter, which was sold out shortly after each batch was completed.

With just one ingredient, the trio stressed to The Tuam Herald how much healthier butter made in the traditional way was compared to any other butter a person could buy in a supermarket.

Castlebar Men’s Shed were on hand to demonstrate the art of a blacksmith, with woodturning showcased by Willie Creighton, but the display which captured the most eyes was the threshing, which is a farming process that loosens the edible grain or seeds from straw.

Organised by the Dunmore Vintage Club, who restored the machine, the machine itself is owned by the Delaney family from Beagh, Dunmore.

“I think we have this machine since the 1960s. It belonged to my father John Delaney. I remember working with him, it was tough work that saw dust and wax going into your eyes. I don’t miss it but it is nice to allow others a chance to see what this work was like,” stated Gerry Delaney.

“The work was a great example of meitheal, that old Irish tradition of coming together,” added his sister, Margaret McCormack.

“This was a job which took nine men to complete, it is great seeing it get so much attention today from young and old, who may have never anything like this before.”