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| 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.