Ould Lammas Fair 2027: Dates (Aug 28 to 31) and Fares

Name: Ould Lammas Fair 2027
Start: 2027-08-28
End: 2027-08-31
Location: Ballycastle, County Antrim

When is Ould Lammas Fair 2027?

Ould Lammas Fair 2027 runs August 28 to 31, 2027.

2027August 28 to 31, 2027By the calendar

How the dates are set: The main fair days are the last Monday and Tuesday of August, with the events starting on the Saturday before.

See every event in August 2027

Ould Lammas Fair schedule

Saturday, August 22, 2026: A fireworks display began at 9:30 pm at the Seafront.
Sunday, August 23, 2026: A live music concert was held in The Diamond from 7:15 pm.
Monday and Tuesday: Fairhill Street becomes the traditional horse-trading area, with farrier displays, pony rides and an animal petting farm.
Saturday to Tuesday in 2026: Amusements along the seafront were open from 11am to 11pm.

Sources: visitcausewaycoastandglens.com, causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk

Getting to Ould Lammas Fair

Ballycastle is about a 90-minute drive north of Belfast. Translink Ulsterbus 217 links the town to Coleraine railway station.
In 2026 a park and ride ran from the McQuillan GAC car park on Whitepark Road, at £10 per vehicle, with buses about every 20 minutes. Parking in town was limited.
In 2026 Translink added extra Ulsterbus services (171, 172, 178, 131 and 402) on the Monday and Tuesday, and bus stops at Marine Corner and Market Street changed during the four days.
In 2026 Quay Road, Ann Street, The Diamond and Castle Street were fully closed to traffic from 8:00am to 11:00pm, with a diversion route to the Seafront and Cushendall.

Sources: abilityhub.uk, visitcausewaycoastandglens.com

Tickets and cost

Entry to the fair and most of the entertainment is free. In 2026 the park and ride cost £10 per vehicle.

Source: visitcausewaycoastandglens.com

History of Ould Lammas Fair

The Ould Lammas Fair is described by the council as Ireland's oldest traditional fair. One guide says it has been held since at least 1606 and is referenced in the 19th-century ballad The Ould Lammas Fair.

Source: abilityhub.uk

Ould Lammas Fair: questions people ask

What date is the Lammas Fair in Ballycastle?

The main fair days are the last Monday and Tuesday of August. In 2026 the event ran from Saturday, August 22 to Tuesday, August 25.

What happens at the Lammas Fair?

Hundreds of stalls line the streets, with live music, a funfair, and horse trading on Fairhill Street. Stalls sell favorites such as dulse and yellowman.

Is the Ould Lammas Fair free?

Yes. Entry to the fair and the majority of the entertainment is free to attend.

Are dogs allowed at the Lammas Fair?

Well-behaved dogs are welcome but must stay on a lead at all times. Large crowds, loud music and fireworks may not suit some animals.

Sources: visitcausewaycoastandglens.com, causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk

About Ould Lammas Fair

Ireland's oldest traditional fair fills a seaside town with horse trading, hundreds of stalls, dulse and yellowman.

Ballycastle's streets fill with market stalls, live music and a funfair over a long weekend at the end of August. The main fair days are the last Monday and Tuesday, when Fairhill Street becomes a horse-trading area with farrier displays and pony rides. Stalls sell the local treats dulse (salted seaweed) and yellowman (honeycomb candy). Parking is limited, so most visitors use the park and ride or the extra buses.

Know before you go

Entry to the fair and most of the entertainment is free, but parking is limited, so use the park and ride or public transport.
Large parts of the town center are closed to traffic on the fair days, so plan around the road closures.
Ballycastle is about a 90-minute drive north of Belfast, so fly into Belfast International (BFS) or George Best Belfast City (BHD) and drive or take a bus.

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