More than two centuries of Ballinasloe Fair and local life will be explored through historic newspaper reports at a special lecture taking place during this year’s Ballinasloe Fair and Festival.
Historian Steve Dolan will deliver an illustrated talk entitled Snapshots of Ballinasloe Fair and Galway Life from Newspaper Reports, 1750–2000 at Gullane’s Hotel on Tuesday, October 6 at 8 pm.
The lecture will use contemporary newspaper reports spanning 250 years to trace the development of the historic fair and the wider social and economic life surrounding it.
Ballinasloe has a centuries-old association with livestock trading and its annual October Fair developed into one of the best-known horse fairs in Ireland.
The talk will examine the Fair’s development from a major livestock mart into the event familiar to generations of visitors today.
The event forms part of the programme for the 2026 Ballinasloe Fair and Festival.
Admission to the lecture is free and all are welcome.
