A Fair day in November

Budding entrepreneurs from all parts of the county will have another opportunity to highlight their skills and promote their services at the second Open Fair project at the West County Hotel, Ennis on Saturday, November 19.

The first fair at the same venue at the end of August was such a success that the forthcoming event has been completely booked out, attracting 110 exhibitors.
The Open Fair project has the backing of the Kilbaha-based Rural Resettlement Ireland whose founder, Jim Connolly, said the August event generated over €7,000 worth of business and more than 2,500 people passed through the doors.
The event is free and is aimed at one-person enterprises that earn an income by exhibiting and selling what they make and what services they offer, said Mr Connolly.
He added the Open Fair project was originally developed in Clare in 1992 with the involvement of the County Clare Vocational Education Committee. On that occasion, all 12 VEC schools in the county participated.
As a result of the successful national re-launch, Open Fair is now spreading to other parts of the country. In co-operation with Rural Resettlement Ireland, the local ICA and Bríd Collins are organising an Open Fair in Feakle Community Hall on Saturday, November 26 and more fairs will be held in Castlebar on December 4 and in counties Roscommon, Laois, Dublin, Donegal and Kerry in the coming months. The closing date for applications for the Feakle Fair is November 19.
The Ennis fair will open at 11am and continue until 6pm.
There will be music, face-painting, cakes, chocolates, massage and laughter yoga demonstrations among other attractions, as well as a huge range of arts and crafts for sale and access to an impressive selection of local services and ideas.
“You can do some Christmas shopping while also helping to support local enterprises into the bargain,” said Mr Connolly.