Stories from Old Newspapers

 

Fair Green Lismore, c. 1916

Waterford News 1 June 1900

Lismore Bazaar

The Bazaar and Fancy Fair, held in the Fair Field, on Tuesday and Wednesday, proved a great success and must have proved very satisfying to the Rev. T. McGrath P.P., and his zealous curates, Rev. F. Coughlan C.C., and Rev. T. Mockler C.C…  The object of the Bazaar was a most deserving one, namely, to help to wipe off the debt of over £4,000 which is still due on the beautiful Catholic church of St. Carthage here.  Ideal summer weather favoured the Bazaar on both days and the attendance, which was mostly local, was of a large and highly fashionable character.  Return tickets at single fares were issued from Cork and Waterford, and all intermediary stations...but…very few attended from any of the outlying stations.  Father McGrath has every reason to be proud at having such plucky and generous people as his parishioners…[He] has brought about wonderful improvements in the chapel and in the parish generally since he was appointed Parish Priest…two years ago.

The Bazaar opened each day at 11 o’clock and remained open until 10.30 each night.  The pretty grounds…were beautifully decorated with flags, bunting and evergreens which converted the place into a veritable fairyland.  The programme of amusements was extensive…Shooting Galleries, Variety Entertainments, Palmistry, Horse Jumping and many other attractive items.  The Stalls were very prettily fitted up…and stocked with useful and valuable articles and the graceful and handsome stallholders did a roaring trade, as few could resist their lovely and seductive smiles….The pretty young ladies who had no permanent stalls but who hawked their goods around the field…were a perfect dream of loveliness in their dainty and charming costumes, and if anyone doubted…that Lismore abounded with pretty girls with rosy cheeks and rogish bewitching eyes, they only had to visit the fair.

A military band from Fermoy performed in the grounds each day…the Variety Entertainment…was very capably managed by Mr. J. Geary. “Mick Enright”, the popular comedian and banjo and mandolin player kept the house in roars…A number of the young boys from the Christian Brothers School appeared on both days and gave some splendid exhibitions of Dumb Bell practice, Physical Drill and Marching.  They next sang several songs in choral…also Irish Step Dancing.  Mr. W. S. Whale, organist of the Protestant Church presided at the piano on both days…it must be said that the Protestant element around Lismore gave the Bazaar their warmest support both physically and financially.