Within
no time at all, the
whole village was filled
with people perusing the
many stalls located
within the local car
parks of the
Presbyterian, Methodist
and Ballad Inn Pub and
on Main Street, closed
off to traffic.
Attractions included
food, plants, books and
crafts stalls,
inflatables, games and
an impressive display of
vintage tractors and
motor bikes.
Many
children had fun with
the face-painters,
coloured hair spraying
and tattooing. The
not-so-young basked in
the sun, enjoying the
music or chatting with
others around the Fair.
Food
available included a lot
of home made jams,
pickles, tray bakes,
cakes, tarts and scones.
The hog roast and BBQ
food were in great
demand all afternoon.
A
favourite attraction was
the children’s Best
Decorated Duck
competition - for
children aged 11 years
and below. Over 400
ducks were displayed for
judging by staff from
the Ballygally Castle
Hotel who sponsored the
duck derby race. After
this a hundred or more
children headed off to
the area surrounding the
nearby river to watch
their ducks race along
the 150 metres course.
With the dry weather,
Ballyclare Fire & Rescue
staff were on hand to
give the ducks a ‘push
start’ with water from a
nearby hydrant. Around 6
minutes later and with
about 5 metres to go to
the finishing line, two
ducks were
neck-and-neck!
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The
giant inflatable slide
was also popular, with
queues throughout the
afternoon. All proceeds
from this and the other
two inflatables were
donated to the charity
‘CRY’ (Cardiac Risk in
the Young). A total of
£500.32 was raised. The
owners of the vintage
tractors and bikes
raised a further £100
making a total
donation of £600.32 for
CRY. Other charities
supported from Fair
activities were
Children’s Hospice and
‘Amara Aid’ who provide
practical help to
Tanzania.
The
Mayor of Newtownabbey,
Paula Bradley, judged
the Primary School
Fashion Show, which had
been organised by the
Methodist Church - where
the final of weeks
bowling tournament,
involving over 60
entrants, was played at
6pm.
The
variety of music ranging
from Old Time Gospel
favourites, ballads,
easy listening,
classical, accordion and
Silver Band pieces
helped greatly in
providing a carnival
atmosphere. Throughout
the afternoon
approximately 1800
people made their way
around the many
attractions.
The
Landlord of the local
bar hosted the Dunk Tank
and a Rodeo Bull
Challenge, involving
volunteers from the
community, raising over
£500 to fulfil his plan
for a defibrillator to
be made available in the
village for local people
to access in the event
of helping treat a
cardiac arrest.
During the evening the
Annual Ballynure Open
and Local Tug-of-War
competition took place
in the Ballynure Church
of Ireland Rectory
field. The winners,
watched by over two
hundred and fifty
spectators, were the
‘Jackson’s Butchers’
team; a new name on the
trophy.
On
Sunday afternoon, the
Fair weekend concluded
with a Sunday Picnic
Praise in the Park at
4pm in Ballynure
Memorial Park. Over 125
people relaxed on their
deck chairs and rugs to
listen to music and a
short service presided
over by the three local
village ministers. The
praise was led by a
group from Ballyclare
and the local Primary
School choir provided
singing before all
enjoyed their Picnic
after the service.
Overall, the Village
Fair - sponsored by
Newtownabbey Borough
Council and all the
local business in
Ballynure - engendered a
greater sense of
community spirit and
awareness.
Ken Armstrong
With thanks to
Newtownabbey Borough
Council for
providing a grant which
allowed for the hire of
the three children's
inflatable attractions
from which funds were
raised and donated to
CRY.
