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BEAR FAIR REMINISCENCES AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES

There’s an old Irish song which begins “If you ever go across the seas to Ireland…” which sings of its beautiful sunsets and scenery.  There are many places in Northern Ireland designated as being “of natural beauty,” such as the coastal route through the villages of Glenarm and Carnlough painted by many artists including myself.  Following the ongoing successes of The Peace Process, tourism has boomed and many expatriates like me have returned to live in Northern Ireland, however, the one thing that the country lacks is Bear Fairs. 

REMINISCING

As an avid collector and having enjoyed visiting Bear Fairs in England when I lived there, I know only too well what the bear loving Irish collectors are missing.  I have a lot of fond memories of my strolls around the stalls at fairs such as those at the Cresta Court Hotel in Altrincham, where I have treasured memories of a meeting a lady from Higher Blackley in North Manchester who had an entertaining sense of fun and the talent of an actor.  She always brought her little furry friend along to each bear fair to say “Hello” to all the new creations.  He was at all times suitably dressed for the occasion and had his raincoat along in case the weather changed.  She livened up the events by the funny dialogue between herself and her little bear buddy and she was known by the seasoned exhibitors.  She always injected some fun into the proceedings successfully.  All Bear Fairs needed fun characters like her and Northern Ireland needs Bear Fairs! 

WE ARE MISSING OUT!

Yes, Northern Ireland is missing out on all the fun.  The fan base here needs to meet bear artists and to buy artist bears.  It’s what the business world calls a “niche market.”  There are lots of suitable venues for staging Bear Fairs and nobody is arranging Fairs to meet bear lovers’ needs.  One possible venue here is Carrickfergus Castle.  Carrickfergus, a town built on the coasts of Belfast Lough and roughly half way between the Ferry Terminal at Larne and Belfast City Airport hosts Teddy Bears Picnics in its attractive Marine Gardens in summer.  Bear lovers flock to it!  The town is perfectly situated for the bear selling traveller and tourists who might collect bears. 

Carrickfergus Castle, an Anglo-Norman structure, stands beside a quaint little stone fishing harbour and a modern marina with an abundance of marvellous restaurants which provide good food and a friendly, casual atmosphere. The Castle itself, with its ancient walls and keep, would provide an atmospheric venue for a Bear Fair.  This would be especially good for an antique and reproduction bear fair as its Great Hall could play host to a large number of exhibitors and the Castle already hosts an annual Mediaeval Craft Fair, which is well attended.  Regular exhibitors can bring out the actor in themselves by dressing up in mediaeval outfits and playing the part of ancient traders.  It is a fun event and one onto which an Antique and Reproduction Bear Fair might be added. 

Of course, exhibitors don’t have to dress up if fair organisers arranged an event there outside of the existing yearly fairs.  It is possible to book a venue there and its gift shop does a brisk trade.

A BEARY SPOOKY BUT NICE PLACE TO STAY

Exhibitors are spoilt for choice as far as overnight stays are concerned, but if they want to stay with the historic atmosphere, the nearby Dobbins Inn, across from the Castle on High Street provides all that.  Dobbins Inn was built on the ancient site of another castle and a Priest Hole was found in it.  Local people tell me that the Inn has its own ghost, a grey lady called Maud, so perhaps a venue for the bear loving ghost hunter!  I should say that the Castle is also reputed to have a headless ghost called Buttoncap in residence.  Perhaps a kind artist could show off her jointing and stitching by helping him reunite his head with his body! 

For those who don’t like the thought of spending a night in a haunted Inn, there are two other superb hotels nearby, The Coast Road Hotel and The Clarion Hotel, and there are a few B&B’s along the main Belfast Road.  For the bear artist who likes to get away from it all, there are some Farm Guesthouses in the surrounding countryside, on the hills at Greenisland and Woodburn overlooking Belfast Lough.  For those who want to combine business with pleasure and stay a while longer, the country walks, water sports, fishing, golfing, museums, clubs and restaurants won’t disappoint them.  The Northern Ireland Tourist Board would gladly post out information about all of these.  Both fair organisers and exhibitors are guaranteed to have a beary good time here. 

The bruin-deprived collectors of Northern Ireland would love to meet the exhibitors they have, to date, only read about in Teddy Bear Club International and admired at a distance. Having met so many bear collectors here myself, I see Northern Ireland as a niche market for bear sellers.  From my own experiences of meeting bear artists, I can only say it is a joy to know and talk to them and I for one would like to welcome Exhibition organisers to our shores.  Having shown bear lovers photos of bears at Bear Fairs I have been to, they find bears as varied in type and style as Beatrix Bears, Barbara Ann Bears, Bears of Grace and Robin Reve Bears totally irresistible and would love to meet their makers.  I’d love it if Fair Organisers such as Brentwood Fairs would consider gracing the shores of Northern Ireland with a few trial Bear Fairs to see just how sales go in this recession. 

THE GLOBAL RECESSION AND NICHE MARKETS

Business may be bad, but people are still collecting bears and look to bears for solace in times of trouble.  Everybody needs a bear to hug!  Bear lovers in Northern Ireland have been through many years of The Troubles and the global recession opens doors here … both as a niche market for bear lovers needing a cute bear to cuddle and for bear artists who have an existing fan base here thanks to Teddy Bear Club International.

Have a virtual visit to Carrickfergus on www.discovernorthernireland.com and on www.carrickfergus.org and see for your self what Northern Ireland has to offer.