18. BF Hirings Fairs

Location: The Diamond, Donegal Town
Narrators: John Ward/Mairead McNulty

Patents for these days go back as far as the early 1600s when Sir Basil Brooke had taken over the castle from the O'Donnells. The fair day was held on the second Friday of each month while the market occurred every Saturday.

Signs and symbols were used to show availability for work: men carried sticks, straws, tools or a bundle under their arm whilst women wore aprons and string bags. All those hired went through the ritual of being examined and questioned about their ability to milk cows, thresh or carry out other farm or household chores. It was very much the survival of the fittest with only an early-risers being sought. Weak or feeble individuals were ignored as they stood forlornly in line at the fairs. The more experienced farm hands were known as spalpeens and would have emblems of their capabilities.

With major social and economic changes in farming in the 1930s, the practice of hiring declined. The introduction of social welfare benefits in the early 20th century also meant workers increasingly wanted to work and be paid on a weekly basis; whilst new legislation began to push youth into education rather than work. By the mid 19th century, they were a thing of the past, but I can think of one friend whose father was part of the Donegal Town hiring fairs, so they are not quite the distant horror story they deserve to be. Sean Beattie's article has more on the fairs: https://historyofdonegal.com/derry-hiring-fairs-sean-beattie-recalls/

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