On 19th August Hollywood Village is going back in time to a post war era when people had to be self-reliant and traditional crafts were part of everyday life. Major social events in rural communities were Fair Days, Mass on a Sunday morning and not forgetting the Ballroom of Romance. Dust off your finest vintage attire and come and join us for a weekend of family fun and a taste of country living.

HOLLYWOOD AND SHEEP

The farming calendar in Hollywood has always revolved around sheep. Hollywood had four traditional fair days going back through the centuries, coinciding with the beginning of each season St Brigid's Day, May Day, 1st August and Hollantide. The Hollantide one (on 1 Nov) survived the longest. These were the main occasions in the year for selling sheep and cattle.

Sheep have been so important in the life of Hollywood and so we thought it was time resurrect this tradition.

Extracts from an article by John Glennon, full version is available in our book which will be on sale in the weeks running up to the fair.

HOLLYWOOD, CO WICKLOW
AND HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA

Hollywood, Co Wicklow can boast that it had the name for well over a thousand years before its American offspring was ever heard of. It was a local emigrant from here, one Matthew Guirke, who christened the Los Angeles suburb with the name of his native place. Matthew Guirke made it big in business over there, and owned a race track. Amazingly this Matthew Guirke was the great granduncle of Jim Guirke (1919-2003), the man who ran this same village shop and sub-Post Office for over 60 years until his death in 2003.

Extracts from an article by John Glennon, full version is available in our book which will be on sale in the weeks running up to the fair.