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The Organisers
The team behind the New Ballywalter Fair, the Irish Game Fair at Shanes Castle and the Irish Game and Country Fair at
Birr Castle is the one that brought the Game Fair concept to Ireland in 1978 and has been involved in running successful
Game Fairs in Ireland for over 30 years including a number at Ballywalter. This makes them one of, if not the most experienced
Game Fair organising teams in the world.
Albert Titterington
Albert brings to the team, creative marketing flair, vast event organising experience and a lifetime's commitment to the
promotion and enjoyment of all countrysports.
He was born in Belfast and educated at Liverpool University (BSc Natural Science); The University of Ulster (DMS, DipM) and
QUB (MBA and top student overall). Albert was not only founder and director of the first major Irish Game Fair at Clandeboye
in 1979, but also a Director of the National Town and Country Fair, at Slane, Co Meath, and organiser of Printing,
Technology, Educational, Security and Pharmaceutical exhibitions throughout the UK. He is currently a Director of the award
winning Irish Country Lifestyle Festival at Shanes Castle, Co.Antrim and the Irish Game and Country Fair at Birr Castle,
Co Offaly – these two Fairs are undoubtedly the PREMIER GAME FAIRS IN IRELAND and are appropriately branded as such as the
GREAT GAME FAIRS OF IRELAND.
A Senior Lecturer in Marketing at the Queens University of Belfast for 22 years, Albert's marketing flair and expertise has
been recognised by the demand for his consultancy services both locally and throughout the world with organisations such
as the World Bank, the EU, DTI, DFID and The Asian Development Bank. He has completed assignments in Indonesia, Cuba,
Moldova, Belarus, France, US and Georgia. He currently lectures on the University of Liverpool's international internet
MBA.
Albert is actively involved in running a shoot, stalking and in gundogs through his chairmanship of the Ulster Golden
Retriever Club and Ruadth Kennel of working golden retrievers and Gordon setters. He has been the publisher of several
country orientated books and conservation articles, facilitated the BBC series The Peer and the Park, and was the publisher
of Ireland's longest continuously published country sports magazine which has now been subsumed into his current publications
Irish Countrysports and Country Life magazine and internet portal. We think it is fair to say that few if any Game or
Country fair organisers anywhere in the world would have either Albert's wide range of experience or marketing ability.
Irene Titterington
Born in Belfast, Irene Titterington brings to the show exemplary administration skills gained in management positions within
the insurance industry (Royal Exchange), health service (Belfast City Hospital) and Titterington family! Irene has provided
the back up for teams in over 30 years of organising major exhibitions, publishing, events and promotions.
She is currently the deputy editor of Irish Countrysports and Country Life magazine and a Director of the award winning
Country Lifestyle Festival.
While Irene actively supports all countrysports her main interest is in helping Albert with his Ruadth kennel of Golden
Retrievers and Gordon Setters, and in facilitating countrysports events although she does enjoy occasional clay pigeon
shooting.
The Late John McClelland
Our late colleague John McClelland brought to the Fair a lifetime of commitment to shooting and fishing including wildfowling on Lough
Neagh. After a successful career in banking he joined BASC NI for a period as Membership Services and Events manager. During this time,
in association with Albert, he delivered two of the most successful ever BASC Game Fairs - especially the resounding success at
Newtownards Airfield when the Fair was threatened by the spectre of FMD.
After a couple of years, John resigned from BASC to join Albert in promoting countrysports in Ireland even more widely and effectively
through the development of a completely new media package. This includes the Irish Countrysports and Country Life magazine and web
portal and the Irish Game Fair & Country Lifestyle Festival - a much more modern, larger and wider ranging event than the BASC
Game Fair.
In spite of having suffered from a debilitating lung disease John contributed fully to the development of what are now the leading
media in their fields i.e. the premier Irish countrysports magazine and web portal and the Great Game Fairs of Ireland.
He was delighted when the team's hard work and the primacy of the Shanes Castle event was recognised by the award of an NITB tourism
award with the National Countrysports Fair at Moira in runner up position. And in spite of increasing ill health he helped plan the
successful rescue of the Ballywalter Fair in 2010 and deliver the record breaking Irish Game Fair at Shanes Castle.
Unfortunately we lost John after Shanes Castle 2010 but we are delighted that his partner Liz Mc Cracken who has been involved in all
facets of the fair has taken John's place as a Director of the Northern Fairs.
Liz McCracken presenting the John McClelland Memorial Cup at Ballywalter Game Fair
Edwin Dash
Operations Director Edwin Dash brings to the Fair impressive customer relations skills honed in a position as customer
complaints manager for a large international telecommunications company and as site manager and assistant Director of
various Game Fairs for 29 years. He is recognised on the show circuit as one of the most helpful and welcoming Game Fair
site managers.
A keen shooting and fishing enthusiast Edwin has developed an interest in equestrian driving and has competed and
exhibited successfully at a number of events throughout the UK.
Since taking early retirement Edwin has lived the "good life" in rural County Down with his small holding, game rearing,
horses, dogs and poultry.
Philip Lawton - Arena Director & Consultant
Philip is well known throughout Ireland and the UK for his love and promotion of all countrysports through his authorship
of regular articles on Irish country and sporting life. Philip brings to the team a deep commitment and knowledge of all
countrysports, good PR and communication skills and extensive event management experience.
He was born in Dublin in 1952, educated at The King's Hospital and worked in the insurance industry specialising in
engineering underwriting and risk management.
He is currently Irish Correspondent for The Countryman's Weekly and Republic of Ireland Representative for Irish Countrysports
and Country Life Magazine. Philip has been fishing since a child and shooting nearly as long.
He gives committed support to all legal fieldsports and has been involved in various groups protecting and promoting
fieldsports including being currently the Honorary Secretary to Countryside Ireland and a founder member of the Celtic
Stickmakers Club.
He was involved in a supporting role at the various Fairs at Birr and has worked as show stand manager at numerous shows for
Countryside Ireland. He has had a very visible presence as Main Arena Director at Markree Game and Country Fair; the Fairs at
Birr Castle and Shanes Castle and now Ballywalter. There are few arena directors with the knowledge and enthusiasm that Philip
has and of course the rare ability to both inform and entertain the crowds. He is a Director of the Irish Game and Country
Fair at Birr.
David Wilkinson - Consultant
Brings a strong farming, rural conservation, fieldsports and event organising background to the team.
Born in Dublin, David was educated Sandford Park and Gurteen Agricultural College. He is a farmer and Farm conservation
award winner and he was chairman of The Tillage Group that won the ICI computer generated Wheat Race programme and member
of the farm discussion group that won the first Farmers Journal/Teagasc group award.
A member of The Irish Tillage & Land Use Association and active member of The Irish Farmers Association having held
a number of national positions and was county chairman in Meath for several years. A strong supporter of rural life he
represented his county on the national rural development committee and was chairman of his local community group and a
founder board member of the first Leader company in Meath.
David is currently a member of the R.D.S. equestrian committee and Chairman of Countryside Ireland. He is very actively
involved in promoting field sports and conservation through events and association membership such as the Game Conservancy
Trust. A previous chairman of The Masters of Harriers Association, currently a committee member and is a joint Master of
The Tara Harriers, one of the oldest harrier packs on these islands. A founder member of the Hunting Association of
Ireland, he is currently a director and is also the 'Hunting with Hounds Director' of F.A.C.E. Ireland. Next January he
will be representing Ireland at the Masters of Foxhounds Association of America centennial celebrations in New York. He
is also a member of the new Irish Farmer based organisation I.F.A. Countryside.
David has a great love for all field sports, he enjoys his rough shooting and is a member of The Moyode wood cock shoot
and his local gun club and angling association at Longwood in Co Meath. His fishing takes him to all parts of Ireland
particularly the Owenduff in Mayo and 'The Corrib' in Co Galway.
He was a Director of the National Country Fair in Birr Castle for it's first two years and then a Director of The Markree
Castle Game and Country Fair held in Co Sligo 2005 and 2006. He also managed The 2006 World Casting Championships Carton
House in September 2006. He is a Director of the Irish Game and Country Fair at Birr.
With such a team in place and a superb venues in Shanes Castle, provided by most dedicated hosts, Lord & Lady O'Neill;
and Birr Castle provided by Lord & Lady Rosse it is no surpise that these two Great Game Fairs of Ireland are Ireland's
premier international class game fairs and consistently attract the largest crowds or why they have won awards such as the
NITB Marketing Excellence Award www.irishgamefair.com/award.asp
Ballywalter Park is one of the jewels of the scenic Ards Peninsula and one of the most attractive Game Fair sites in Ireland
provided by most sporting and accommodating hosts Lord & Lady Dunleath see www.ballywalterpark.com.
We are convinced that with the strength and experience of the organising team in laying out and controlling the ground. Superb
dry car parks and the proven marketing ability and flair of the team the Ballywalter Game & Country Living Fair event will
very quickly assert itself as the third best attended Fair in Ireland behind the Shanes and Birr Castle events.
To contact the organisers call 028 (from ROI 048) 90483873 Mobile: 0772 097 1181 E: irishgamefair@btinternet.com
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