Montalto estate to host harvest fair next month

Montalto estate to host harvest fair next month

20 August 2014

A NEW harvest and country living festival will be held in the Montalto estate in Ballynahinch next month.

Over 15,000 visitors are expected at the estate over the weekend of September 27-28 for the fair, which will showcase rural traditions.

This will be the first time for decades that the extensive local estate has been open to the public. 

The fair will run alongside a living history event in Ballynahinch town on September 27, which will include the re-enactment of the famous Battle of Ballynahinch and a programme of events recalling the traditional harvest, pig and potato fairs for which the town was once famed.

At the estate there will be a two-day celebration of country sports, pursuits and lifestyles.

The event organiser is Downpatrick man, Albert Titterington, director of Country Lifestyle Exhibitions. He said the festival would be a unique event for a unique town.

“The house at Montalto, originally built in the 1700s by Lord Rawdon, Earl of Moira, has a particularly rich history, encompassing The Battle of Ballynahinch when, in June 1798, the United Irishmen fought government forces on nearby Ednavaddy Hill,” he said.

“Today, the house sits on an estate of 400 acres and it remains largely closed to the general public although available for weddings and private parties. 

“For two days only, the gates of this secluded estate will open exclusively for the Ballynahinch Harvest and Country Living Festival.

“There will also be a ‘companion’ one day event centred in and around the old Market Square to reinforce the town’s historic connections with an emphasis on creating a focus of fun for all the family with a fully costumed re-enactment of the battle of Ballynahinch creating a spectacular highlight.”

The event will be backed by Down Council and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board. 

Mr. Titterington, who has 54 major game fairs to his credit, is confident of its success. 

“Having been responsible for launching the game fair concept in Ireland, I am extremely excited to launch this unique twin town and country festival with two large scale events in the same weekend, one of which will be centred in Ballynahinch and the other on the beautiful Montalto Estate.  

“Expect to see all that is best in game fairs and country shows set alongside the better things in life that the countryside can offer.

Down Council chairman, Billy Walker, said major events like the game fair were important to the council’s tourism growth strategy.

“We look forward to Ballynahinch benefiting not only from the raised profile which will be generated by this exciting attraction, but also from the solid economic benefits which the expected influx of visitors will bring to the locality’s retailers and its hospitality sector,” he said.