Editorial

Country Sports and Country Life

Editorial Comment

Welcome to the warmer weather, more outside activities, more fishing, more conservation and - of course - welcome to Game Fair Season at the Irish Game Fair, Shane’s Castle.

The ‘Blair’ Bill that sought to ban hunting with dogs was lost. Well, we won that battle but perhaps not the war. I have no doubt there will be similar coming on stream in the future.

Many consider that the Bill was ‘beaten.’ Maybe so, but then John Blair’s MLA’s Facebook page in January, launched a petition in an apparent attempt to gather support for another go. He said: “Disappointed that efforts to ban hunting with dogs in NI were thwarted by Sinn Féin & most DUP MLAs last month. I intend to reintroduce my Bill to ban the 'sport' in the new mandate. Please sign today & show your support for a ban.”

Then on 1st April the Antrim Guardian reported that John Blair has unveiled plans to re-introduce his Bill to ban hunting wild mammals with dogs in Northern Ireland at the ‘earliest opportunity.’

Mr Blair says he now plans to reintroduce his Private Members’ Bill to outlaw the practice - if he is elected in May, of course.

And all this against the background of his own petition which only attracted just over 3,000 signatures supporting a ban. In other words, only c 0.1579 % of the NI population wished to support his call for a ban. Now that seems to me like a minuscule minority of support for his proposals. Is this not a case of the tail wanting to wag the dog?

Saturday 25th June and Sunday 26th of June are the dates to remember for this year’s extravaganza Irish Game Fair at Shane’s Castle, Antrim.

After a two year layoff due to Covid, the Irish Game Fair is very much alive and well. In fact the team behind the celebration of the countryside and country sports will run at its natural home of Shanes Castle over what has become known worldwide as the ‘Irish Game Fair Weekend,’ in June.

With such a layoff, traders are keen to get the show on the road without delay and we have had a large number of new bookings from across Ireland and the UK which means a huge selection of goods not seen before at the Irish Game Fair at Shanes Castle.

For the very first time the Game Fair will host STEVIE MUNN’S FLY FAIR AT SHANES CASTLE, ANTRIM - and it is free of charge to everyone at the Game Fair.

The Fly Fair is set amidst the Game fair’s extensive range of trade stands and non stop entertainment, and will feature Fly Dressing, Fly Casting, Trade Stands, and a Put & Take Fishery.

This will be an amazing specialist fly fishing and angling extravaganza based at the wonderful old Railway Station the perfect Fly Dressers’ Pavilion, with a huge floored marquee for trade stands and a casting area on site so you can try before you buy. See www.antrimflyfair.com for more details but here’s a snapshot:

FLY FAIR FLY DRESSING SPECTACULAR watch some of the finest fly dressers practice their art.

FLY CASTING demonstrations and casting workshops designed for all casting skill levels.

KIDS CAN LEARN TO FISH with Bobby Bryans and the fantastic members of the NSN who operate a Put & Take Fishery. Youngsters have a real chance of catching their first ever trout. What a memory and what a snap for the family album!

Meanwhile, the Irish Game Fair will have Main Arena acts to entertain all day long, with two other Arenas where you can watch and learn from top acts.

Country sports enthusiasts and their families can enjoy an action packed Game Fair programme over both days, with International Country Sports Competitions and lots of ‘have a go’ activities with fantastic prizes.

Living History will be in action in the Main Arena and you can also wander around the Living History Village with its historic encampment and ‘history in action’ displays.

If you’re hungry, why not pop into the Food & Craft Festival for food to tickle every palette, alongside game and fish cookery displays.

Explore the Old Ruined Castle and watch exciting gun dog competitions from a vantage point on the Castle Ramparts. Why not try you own dog in some of the friendly competitions running at the Fair?

And don’t forget the terrier, lurcher and whippet showing and racing competitions.

I’m told racing will be the tightest ever this year at Shanes Castle and it would be a brave man or woman who could predict the winners of the Master McGrath and Mick the Miller races. Or indeed which dogs will emerge as Five Nations Show Champions. Again high stakes events for big prizes and prestige.

All that and a stroll around the 150 plus trade stands with some special game fair prices - whew!

If you want to know more then make sure you watch the press and log in to the Irish Game Fair website at http://www.irishgamefair.com/

I’ll be on the magazine stand as usual, so please come along and say hello. Free issues are available as usual.

A final thought: wouldn’t it be wonderful to see a REALLY massive attendance at Shanes Castle this year, right in the constituency of the aforementioned MLA. Thousands of country sports enthusiasts and their families, alongside thousands of other folk, who perhaps neither hunt, shoot or fish, yet enjoy the rural events featured at the Irish Game Fair. Perhaps they too feel that these country pastimes, like the Irish Game Fair itself are part and parcel of our traditional way of life

A really huge turnout - now what a message that would give!