The Market Square

This print is part of my 2020 Dreamscapes collection which was created for the wonderful Turbet Island Dreamscape Trail in Belturbet, Co Cavan.  

What is a dreamscape? 

In the dictionary the word dreamscape means “A landscape or scene with the strangeness or mystery characteristic of dreams.”

Each print in this series of Dreamscape has a beautiful story to tell. I created each in response to the landscape and extensive historical and mythological research of the local land. The unique story comes with the print and gives an extra special depth of meaning. It makes a unique gift for anyone interested in folklore or nature.

The Story for this piece:

In 1610 English landlord Stephen Butler planted the town of Belturbet creating a market in the town square. In the 18th century it was much bigger than Cavan town.The first Thursday of every month there was a cattle market on the Fairgreen and in later years a variety of stalls on the market square.  The river Erne played a central role to its success, bringing the goods to the market on cots and the people on steamboats.  People came in on the trains too. The famous 19th century writer Shan Bullock who was born at Crom Castle told “the true story of life along the Erne basin at the time”. His work epitomised Irish life as a whole. In one of his books he talks about attending a fairday in Belturbet, his words spark the setting of this colourful and nostalgic scene.

“ At 8 o’clock of a morning we found the Fair Green thronged, cattle of all sorts, pigs in carts, goats and asses. They were all coming and going, striking fierce bargains, judging, shouting, pricing and swearing. The pigs squealing, the cattle bellowing. To see Belturbet in its glory  you had to gaze from the Townhall  steps across the Diamond on the Fair or Market days. Such a stir and scene ! Sidewalks thronged, streets this way and that full of carts and cars, shops buzzing with trade, the police marching.”

 Appearing in the scene we have local legend and character Frank Rice (RIP) with his wheel barrow of sawdust that he would collect from the shoe factory to sell to locals for a few bob. Eileen McKernan appears as a little girl doing her weekly milk run with her brother Jim McElgunn at the fair – a fond memory described to me in our recent interview. 

 Information taken from George E. Morrissey’s book, Belturbet, A Chequered History