Co. Cavan native and Castleisland resident, Charlie Farrelly is investigating the leaking of his private data to a Dublin based insurance company.
He has established from a representative of the IPB Insurance company that his name and address was supplied to them by a person in a Kerry County Council office and he feels that this is a breach of the data protection act and an attack on his right to privacy.
Attempt to Saddle Him
He also feels that this is an attempt to saddle him as the head and organiser of the annual Castleisland Horse Fair and it has left him bucking.
The insurance company is pursuing a claim / allegation from a youngster from Tralee that he was injured by a horse at the Castleisland fair in 2017.
Seven Page Letter
A paragraph in the seven page letter from the insurance company which arrived to Mr. Farrelly’s home address this week states:
‘We have now completed our own investigations which now have confirmed that the organising and running of the event were carried out by your organisation, and therefore, your organisation would be liable for any incidents which take place during the fair.’
Ironically, the letter also touches on data protection regulations.
Old Moore’s Almanac
Other than an annual notice in Old Moore’s Almanac, nobody in Castleisland can say with any certainty or truth that they know of a committee or individual on whom the organisation of the fair could be pinned.
While its economic benefits are beyond question and broadly welcomed, its bounty comes as naturally, as uninvited, as unhindered as the rain and the wind and the sunshine and the seasons themselves.
Fair Here Since 1226
It is probably safe to say that horses have been bought and sold on and around the streets of Castleisland since the Norman Castle was established here in 1226.
If you wish to dispute this – and it is indeed wide open to discussion and a bit of a kicking about – you won’t be able to make Castleisland’s one remaining fair any younger than another probable origin in 1601.
Charter Granted in 1601
Then, a town charter was granted to Castleisland which allowed it to hold regular, weekly and monthly fairs and markets.
Today, the November 1st and annual Castleisland Horse Fair is the final survivor of the great age which gave Castleisland its Market Town reputation and tradition.
During that time huge cattle and horse fairs were held on a monthly basis along with regular, weekly pig fairs.
When Castleisland Cattle Mart came into being in 1959 the days of selling cattle at fairs on the streets were numbered and it became an organised and organiser led business.
Sole Survivor
The buying and selling of pigs also moved off street and was transformed into a highly organised business. Now this has left the horse fair and its November 1st date as the sole survivor of the days of spontaneity.
As for the ‘organisers’ claim, Charlie Farrelly is angry and perplexed as to how and why his data was shared and used in this way and he’s determined to find out who’s behind the breach.
Attempting to pin responsibility on someone for this type of event would remind one of the old farming analogy of trying to shear a pig – loads of screeching but no wool.
Far Greater Injury
“I consider this breach of my rights a far greater injury than anything you’d get from a horse. The new laws are supposed to protect us from this kind of abuse,” said Mr. Farrelly.
You won’t find too many fools hanging around fairs of this kind. You won’t find anyone crazy enough to take on the responsibility now associated with our spiraling claims culture.
And if you were looking for that kind of fool you certainly wouldn’t look in Charlie Farrelly’s direction.
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