BOSTON BAND/OLD FAIR
The Boston Irish Police Band come to Ireland to take part in the St. Patricks Day parade in a different city or town most years. In 1997 Cork did the honours, with March 17th being a Monday it provided a long holiday weekend. So on Sunday 16th on the invitation of our Gardai, the band came to Carrigtwohill. Based in a Cork City hotel, many family members travelled with them.
The Community Council organised a welcome committee, a platform was set up outside the Hall with local dignitaries lined up to take the salute. The band assembled at Barryscourt Castle and marched up the road to the Main Street.
Playing the rousing air “It’s a Great Day for the Irish” the band gave the salute as the passed the Hall and continued up the street to the G.A.A. field amid the welcoming cheers of hundreds of people. In the G.A.A. field they took part in a friendly baseball game versus our own Gardai team and seemingly ended up evens.

Guards that Paraded with the Boston Pipe Band
Later, when the band has disbanded, they made their way back to Barryscourt Castle for a hooley. The courtyard’s resounded to irish music and song with pretty colleens dancing on the green – DeValera style. A flaithauil supply of Irish Coffey and others brands plus eats kept the hooley going to do justice to a band which had travelled so far.
So much so, one man James Barry whose people had a connection with Barryscourt Castle in years gone by, asked the members of the Welcome Committee, would they ever consider organising an Old Time Fair. His family still had the charter rights to hold such a fair in Carrigtwohill four times a year as given by King Henry III in 1234. He had heard fireside stories of the old Fairs in Ireland long ago, the cattle on the streets, the drovers, tanglers and all the excitement of buying and selling associated with it. Mr Barry promised to return again from Boston if a date was set for it. That’s how our very First old Time Fair took shape in Carrigtwohill in over eighty years.

Old Fair
The Community Council immediately formed a committee to work out a programme. With Mary Halpin in the chair backed up by Patricia O’ Brien, arda Mick O’ Dwyer, Adrienne Kennedy, Oliver Sheehan, Denis Forrest, Eileen Stoap, Robbie Sheehan and a few dozen other people it all came together within a few months. Even our summer holidays were put off to ensure its success. It worked.
The Fair was held on Sunday August 31ST 1997 in the village. From over 100 displays the highlights included threshing, milking, butter churning, bastible bread making, sheep shearing, horse shoeing, winnowing, cross-cutting, and much more. Entertainment included ballad singing, story telling, spin the wheel, bed of nails, open air stage dancing, music, pony trap riding, pitch & toss, and old time dress competition which added fun & colour to the occasion. The prime attraction of the day – in the hall – was without a doubt a magnificent exhibition of over 300 old photographs donated on loan by the local people. Compiled and mounted by Imelda Vaughan, the photos clearly depicted the life & times of Carrigtwohill going back to the year 1800. this exhibition generated such unexpected interest from all sections, the Community Council in response to public demand set up a sub-committee to publish the first volume of 125 photographs in time for the 1997 Christmas trade. With very little time left at this stage the sub-committee of John Dennehy, Joe O’ Mahony, Imelda Vaughan and Marie Kelleher compiled the contents. With generous sponsonship from over 100 local businesses the book printed by Carrig Print and named “ Carrigtwohill Through The Centuries” was launched on Thursday November 20th 1997 in the recently renovated St. David’s Hall.

The old world charm and antique setting of the church blended in harmony with the occasion as eloquently outlined by Donnacha O’ Duchaing in his launching speech. It is of interest to note some of the pictures in the book were taken by Lar Cashman of Tullegreine familiar to everyone in the locality up to the 1950’s. Using the latest up to date models available at that time including a tripod camera with a black cloth over his head, Lar’s photographs which captured life at its best over a wide area are family treasures today. The books sold out very quickly and a second edition may be printed in the future.

Early Days of the village - Early Roads in Carrig - Pastimes and Customs
The Norman period to Reformation - The Fenians - Carrigtwohill Caves - Ryan and Ahern
Churches - Ballyannon Castle - Barryscourt Castle - The By-Pass
The Boston Band/Old Fair - Tour De France - Ploughing Championships