A busy Fair Day in Letterkenny on Monday.
BY KATE HEANEY
THIS 21st anniversary year of the Letterkenny Reunion has attracted record numbers to the wide range of events this week, with emigrants and locals delighted with what has been described as the “best Reunion yet”.
Reasons given for the overwhelming success have included “reconnecting”, “a real sense of identity” and “showing that money is not everything”.
On Monday there were echoes of the Town Fairs of yesteryear as more than 1,000 people enjoyed the drama and stalls on the closed-off street between McGinley’s Bar and Larkin’s Lane.
A group from the Ulster American Folk Park re-enacted the Town Fair in full costume with huge success and much comedy. They even managed to get some of the onlookers to dress up too.
All of the Reunion Committee appeared in costume adding to the mirth – with some participants even willing to try on the enormous bloomers brought by the actors.
According to organiser Dessie Kelly, the stall holders who set up on the street for the afternoon, had a wonderful time with the Ramelton market stall selling out within hours. The St Vincent de Paul shop proved popular as did stalls selling vintage goods.
“The man heading up the team of actors from the Folk Park, Patrick O’Kane, was thrilled with how the crowd really got into the atmosphere – trying on old corsets and giant bloomers – it was very relaxed and great fun. It showed us that people really do appreciate when you do something different. There was easily more than one thousand people their,” Dessie added.