Ballinasloe Fair fears over ban on sulky racing
Declan TierneyNews
The organisers of the annual Ballinasloe Fair are concerned that the refusal of Galway County Council to facilitate the traditional sulky racing could result in a recurrence of last year’s trouble at the event.
And comments on social media suggest that if the racing, or ‘flashing of horses’ as it is also known, is not allowed to proceed, then it could even cast a shadow over the future of the Fair.
Gardaí in Ballinasloe are so concerned that they are set to bring in additional resources from other stations around the county.
Last year there was a protest when horse owners could not ‘lunge’ their animals as they had done for years. It is a process in which the horses jump over fences to show off their prowess. The owners, on this occasion, held a quiet protest by not engaging in this process.
In a statement, the Ballinasloe Fair and Festival Committee confirmed that Galway County Council have decided not to facilitate the flashing of horses for the October Fair.
“We are disappointed that a more mutually beneficial decision was not reached. Last year, there were protests when the local authority decided for the first time not to facilitate the flashing of horses.
“These protests were highly stressful and potentially violent and need to be avoided this year at all costs. They also led to severe disruption to the Fair and Festival committee’s lunging competition, which has nothing at all to do with the dispute.
“It was hoped that these scenes could have been avoided this year. We had been preparing ‘a business-as-usual’ programme of events, but we will now have to review these plans in light of the Council’s decision.
“It is important for us to point out that the Fair and Festival committee has never been involved in the provision of the flashing track and has never organised any of the events that took place there. Last year’s protests did not take this into consideration.
“We are hopeful that even at this late stage, the local authority will engage with the representatives of the driving clubs and a compromise, workable solution will be achieved,” the statement read.
Gardaí in Ballinasloe are concerned that it will result in a confrontational situation at the two week long Fair.
Members of the Travelling community are livid that the sulky racing has been banned and are set to protest at the event.
A crucial meeting of the Fair Coordinating Committee will take place today to discuss the crisis – this is made up of representatives from the Fair and Festival Committee, Ballinasloe Horse and Agricultural Show, the Gardaí and Galway County Council.