PICTURE GALLERY: Record crowds at Oul Lammas Fair

Tens of thousands thronged Ballycastle with queues miles long on all approach roads to the town leaving motorists with no option but to exercise patience until they got to their destination..

Many seasoned observers said they had never witnessed crowds like it and one young person who was only attending their second Fair described it as 'mental.'

Another young person said it took them almost an hour to get from the bottom of the town to the Diamond such was the congestion.

The glorious sunshine and the Bank Holiday clearly motivated many to come to the seaside and they weren't disappointed with plenty of stalls and general entertainment.

The Fair really begins at the weekend with many making the 'pilgrimage' home for the last social event in the North Antrim calendar. It is a time to renew friendships and share a pint or two...or more...in the pubs who invariably enjoy huge business.

Visitors from the Scottish Isles as well as from the South of Ireland and local guests were entertained to dinner at the Marine Hotel on Sunday night hosted by Councillor Price McConaghy. The hospitality of the chair extended to the following day in Sheskburn.

A heavy horse show preceded events on Saturday and this year the organisers were delighted with the turn out.

All in all, the Fair has demonstrated its amazing pulling power and even with a reduction in stalls, the atmosphere and craic are just too good to miss!

As one person said: "I don't go for the stalls, I go because I meet up with som many friends."