The hiring fair enactment completed by the children of St. Michael's primary school Newtownhamilton and St. Oliver's primary school Carrickrovaddy is part of a wider "Living History Project" lead by the Rural Health Partnership in South Armagh and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The aim of the "Living History Project" is to re-connect local people to the history and heritage of their area, connecting people and place and engaging with other nationalities to develop a sense of belonging.
Newtownhamilton was founded by the Hamilton family in 1770 and is in the townland of Shean, the largest townland in County Armagh. It was the hiring ground of South Armagh and children as young as nine years of age hired for a six-month period. They came to hire in Newtownhamilton from across South Armagh and the neighbouring counties of Louth and Down.
"Are ye for hiring?" In 1904 the hiring rate for six months work was farm hands £9, strong hands £6, little fellows £4, general house servants £6, little girls £4, The servant boy or girl was kept separate from the farmer and his family and their sleeping quarters, were in most cases, the loft.
In the hardship endured by the hiring hands some stories were told - The woman of the house took ill and was heard to tell her son "Whatever you do, if I give in, keep the hired cuddy running".
Many stories were left untold because they were too difficult and traumatic.
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