Smithfield Horse Fair Mar 2011 (not only shotguns & slash-hooks)

An afternoon's filming at the Smithfield horse fair on 6th March 2011. The shooting incident happened just before we arrived. The news item from RTE is intercut. We were struck by the way the media ignored the hard-working horse dealers and customers going about their business in a relaxed and non-threatening manner.
Objections to the continuation of the horse fair (a tradition going back over a hundred years) are on grounds of animal welfare and disruption to the residential area. The main objections come from the new hotels, expensive apartments, and businesses in the Smithfield redevelopment - which have only been in the area for the past seven years.
A few days later, Pavee Point, the body representing traveller culture in Ireland, submitted the following statement:
"Pavee Point wishes to express its shock at and condemnation of the events of violence which occurred at Smithfield Horse Fare in Dublin yesterday, Sunday March 6 2011. As these would appear to be serious criminal acts currently under the investigation of An Garda Síochána, we are unable to comment further on the events in particular but would urge anyone with information to make this available to the Gardaí.
Pavee Point is deeply concerned to ensure that the welfare of animals and people at horse fares is of the highest possible standard. The fair needs to be regulated in the interests of animal welfare. Enforcement of high standards is in everybody's interests, and would be welcomed by the Traveller community. Pavee Point, in association with the other Traveller organisations, has issued guidance on the Control of Horses Act and facilitated training for Travellers on care of horses. In addition, there are a number of horse projects in the Dublin area doing valuable work on care of horses. Clearly, this work needs to be resourced, in the interests of the welfare of the animals concerned.
Finally, it would be a disaster if one, admittedly serious, incident, should end a longstanding tradition for the Smithfield area. The Smithfield Horse Fair is a fixture in the city's life, and it would be a mistake to pass up the opportunity to effectively regulate and improve the fair in the interests of the animals, traders and the city.
Pavee Point believes that, as a matter of urgency, all the stakeholders and interested parties in the Smithfield Horse Fares should meet to consult on the future of the fare; this should include the City Council, local residents and traders, Traveller representatives, Gardaí, horse traders, the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and representatives of the Department of Agriculture."

[@stephenrice4554]

I like the words from Eugene Finn . I'm related to the Irish travellers and the constant beating up from the press has my gran foaming at the mouth . She's taught me much but I'm learning still . Great video 👍🇬🇧

[@brianbarrett3012]

Veryg00dnews😂

[@subliminalfunk1]

Far from only Slash Hooks and Shotguns - we were there only 20 mins after the 'incident' - couldn't tell anything had happened....

[@lyndacosten7994]

what the hell hope all people punished wicked bastard's

[@Bringmeoneofthosechickens]

Are these people ethnically Irish? Or are they foreign like gypsies or something?

[@voltorb433]

Is that Thomas slab Murphy at very end 8.20

[@vforvictory1331]

i was never there but it looks like an honest true{fair} documentation of the fare.10 out of 10 for eugene finn and co.IRELAND sadly AS IT USED TO BE. A GOOD DAY OUT.

[@marktunney5000]

You can't use the words 'honest and true' anywhere near irish tinkers

[@johnfarrell273]

Got in one.it was a one off.👌🏻

[@macman1469]

They've definitely got some good horses .

[@kayleighbroadd2329]

The piebald cob at 5:46 was beautiful!

[@patrickjm3487]

It’s certainly is a beautiful colour and love ❤️ the way it has been looked after FairPlay to boys who really look after these lovely animals they are so beautiful))) Do ya have any horses fella

[@D10RC]

And they wonder why their is no fair every month anymore.

[@MerlinxxLove]

Man, I love that fair, but I hate people who smoke near them... :(

[@frankdunphy4595]

Used to love going to smithfield in the early 90s.

[@jimmymolo]

I was there on the day,some laugh when the man ran in the supermarket with two ponies

[@franreilly7139]

4 thousands people more like 200 people

[@pjg_77]

Bunch of scunners.

[@kinggypsy2032]

Oi met the wife there when she was six

[@ty3165]

oh for heavens sake mana ha

[@johnboiiquilligan853]

no prof

[@andrewjoesphmccann3325]

Im proud to be a Irish Traveller for people who call us scum look in the mirror at your self's before u judge us stop this racism and discrimination now

[@mandymoorehouse5596]

these same pèople shot my son three weeks before bullet still in his brain no one been charged

[@davidowenwinter3111]

Travellerfm Ireland its not racesim as travllers aint a race

[@dawnrosewallflower508]

Travellerfm Ireland TRUE AND ELOQUENTLY STATED. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE TRAVELLER MOVEMENT WEBSITE AND THE OPERATIONS AND CAMPAIGNS THAT IT CURRENTLY HAS WORKING. I KNOW THAT IT NEEDS "ACTIVISTS" TO PARTICIPATE IN ITS FIGHT TO PROTECT TRAVELLERS, GYPSIES AND ROMA PEOPLE FROM DISCRIMINATION. KUSHTY BOK and May God Bless You.

[@macman1469]

@@davidowenwinter3111 you're correct it's not racism it's bigotry.

[@Funkylogik]

the perr bunnys sure :(

[@deanferguson9008]

K

[@adammasterson6]

ha i live there :)

[@violetmoyler8671]

Adam Masterson where is this fair held

[@adammasterson6]

@@violetmoyler8671 Smithfield, Dublin, Ireland. its not held anymore unfortunately

[@jabodl1]

Don't be putting me on the telly please. I don't pay tax and sign on the dole

[@covid-joe9648]

Very Whealthy traveler man him Hannibal. Harker

[@ballickmoyler]

Who was responsible for this? The UVF?

[@jazzhands7771]

Bog brained murphys

[@brendabassman9549]

Leave the horse fair alone! Its heritage!

[@samjones4323]

That man didn’t want to be filmed u arrogant man

[@mikemurr3510]

Well then he shouldn't be at a public fair ,,where people have filmed and took pictures for yeats