THE PRESIDENTIAL race was not high on the agenda for the 80,000 who attended the Ballinasloe horse fair in Co Galway yesterday, but even for them there was no escaping the campaign.
Poor sales and low prices dominated the opening day of the fair, but presidential candidate Senator David Norris said he was thrilled with the welcome he received.
The annual horse fair has been running in the town for more than 300 years and Mr Norris was certainly not the first politician over the years to canvass a vote there.
“I got an incredible, warm and positive reaction with no negativity.
“I met some fantastic people at the horse fair in Ballinasloe; young, old, horse trainers, farmers, on lookers, stall-holders and entertainers. It was a wonderful day,” he said.
The fair, which is worth about €9 million to the town, was officially opened by former Republic of Ireland soccer international Niall Quinn.
Traffic diversions were in place and large areas of the town were pedestrianised to cater for more than 100 stalls.
The attendance included officials from other Irish fairs as well as festivals in Britain and in France.
Sales were said to be slow yesterday but the standard of horses on offer was high and business is expected to be brisk during the remainder of the nine-day festival.
Gardaí arrested a number of people for public order offences late on Saturday night but there were no reports of serious incidents.
JOHN FALLON