Ould Lammas Fair Ballycastle 2026

What to Expect

The Ould Lammas Fair is widely considered the oldest fair in Ireland, with a charter granted to Randal MacDonnell in 1606 to hold fairs at Dunaneeny Castle - one on the last Tuesday in August, the origin of the modern event. The fair takes place on the final Monday and Tuesday of August each year, transforming the streets of Ballycastle with stalls selling crafts, local produce, livestock and traditional foods. Yellowman (a local honeycomb confection) and dulse (edible seaweed) are the signature foods of the fair. Traditional horse trading reflects the fair’s centuries-old roots.

Good to Know

• Dates: Monday 31 August and Tuesday 1 September 2026.

• Free entry to the fair streets; individual traders charge their own prices.

• Traditional foods to try: yellowman and dulse, both available from street stalls.

• Horse and livestock trading takes place in designated areas.

• The town gets very busy; arrive early or use park-and-ride if available.

Getting There

Ballycastle is on the north Antrim coast, approximately 55 miles north of Belfast via the A26/A44. Translink Ulsterbus services connect Ballycastle to Belfast and Coleraine; check translink.co.uk for timetables during fair weekend.