Markets were very popular in the 19th and 20th Century not just because of the obvious chance to buy and sell, but also because they provided a meeting place for farmers and the wider community. Often times stock was herded to the market the night before, so the trip to market often took over two days out of the working week and so had to be planned carefully.
Often farmers needed help herding their stock and young children, boys in particular were taken out of school to help their fathers.
This poster advertises a pig market in Co. Monaghan and the Town Clerk requests that farmers bring the pigs at an earlier time than usual.
