Alastair launches Lammas Fair book in Portrush

WELL known local photographer Alastair McCook will hold a launch evening for his book, ‘The Auld Lammas Fair Photographs’ in Portrush Library on Tuesday, December 4 from 6.30pm to 7.30pm.

This is Alastair’s latest book and contains 120 pages of black and white photographs covering over twenty five years in the history of the Auld Lammas Fair, held annually in Ballycastle in August.

The images all come from Alastair’s extensive archive from the two-day event and the majority of the photographs have not previously been published before.

They include the stalls selling yellowman and dulse, street entertainers and musicians, the street preachers and the horse dealers trading on the traditional pitch on the Fairhill and during the event in Portrush Library, Alistair will talk through a selection of these images.

Alastair was born and raised in Monaclough, North Antrim and has been interested in photography for as long as he can remember.

Over the past 25 years he has attended the Auld Lammas Fair in his capacity as a photographer and this book is a memorable record of one of Ireland’s great events, of days of laughter and fun, and of times gone but not forgotten.

Alastair says: “Many of the photos taken when I started were of local characters and were simply taken for my own enjoyment. Over the years, they have built into a unique record and I think this book really does the Auld Lammas Fair justice, as it captures what the event is really like and what it is all about.”

Everyone is invited along to this event from 6.30pm and signed copies will be available to buy at a price of £12.

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