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seasonal · Wednesday 1 July 2026 · Various 
Ballinamuck Olde Fair Day
At Ballinamuck · Ballinamuck, Co. Longford
At Ballinamuck · Ballinamuck, Co. Longford
The Ballinamuck Olde Fair Day is one of those rare summer occasions that genuinely delivers on the promise of a traditional Irish fair. Held in the small north Longford village of Ballinamuck, it draws families, heritage enthusiasts and anyone who appreciates a good parade and the smell of freshly baked bread made the old way. Entry and activities are free, which makes it an easy day out for young families in particular.
The heart of the fair is Johnny’s Cottage - a 200-year-old building restored entirely by local volunteers and voted Longford’s Favourite Building in 2021. Inside and around it, heritage demonstrations run throughout the day: butter churning, traditional bread making and open-fire cooking, with storytelling sessions woven in between. A biodiversity garden tour gives the whole thing a grounded, living-history feel rather than a purely nostalgic one.
Beyond the cottage, the day fills out with a vintage parade through the village, local musicians playing through the afternoon, amusements and kids’ entertainment. Free horse and trap rides are a perennial favourite - straightforward fun that younger children take to immediately. The event is community-run and has a genuinely local character; this is not a ticketed festival but a village pulling together for a day.
Ballinamuck sits in the northwest corner of County Longford, roughly 12 km from Longford town on the R198. By car from Dublin, take the M4/N4 west to Longford town (approximately 1 hour 20 minutes), then follow local roads north toward Ballinamuck. Bus Eireann serves Longford town from Dublin (route 23); from there you would need a car or taxi for the final stretch. Parking in the village itself is informal and on-street - arrive early if you want to park close to the action.
Ballinamuck carries real historical weight beyond the fair - the Battle of Ballinamuck in September 1798 was the last major engagement of the United Irishmen rebellion, and a memorial pikeman statue stands at the centre of the village. The 1798 Visitor Centre, housed in a former RIC barracks, is worth a look before or after the fair. There is more to see in Longford and across Co. Longford.
Heading to Ballinamuck in Longford? Longford has plenty more to see. Read the Longford area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.