12/10/2026
Ballinasloe Fair 2026: Animal Welfare Update.
The NSPCA team has officially concluded its on-site presence at this year’s Ballinasloe October Fair and Festival. Our inspectors were active on the ground across all three key horse trading dates: October 4th, 5th, and 10th.
First and foremost, we want to acknowledge that the majority of equines on display this year were in good condition and of good quality. It was encouraging to see responsible owners presenting well cared for animals.
We also recognise the visible improvements made at the Fair Green over the last few years.
However, ensuring animal welfare requires constant vigilance. Over the three-day period, our teams responded to 61 logged welfare concerns and our actions included:
▪️26 animals we taken into the care of the NSPCA from 17 separate seizures. This included a mix of horses, ponies, dogs, puppies, poultry, goats and ferrets.
▪️20 additional issues resolved directly through on site advice to owners.
▪️12 formal warnings were also issued.
While progress has undoubtedly been made, these figures show there is still a significant amount of work to do. Moving forward, we are fully committed to working closely with all key stakeholders, including the fair organisers, community wardens, Galway County Council, Department of Agriculture and An Garda Síochána, to implement further robust improvements for animal welfare.
Thank you to the public for your support and for being our eyes and ears on the ground. Together, we can ensure this historic fair remains safe for all animals.
