December 7th 1800

Marriage at the Goat Market

In more ancient times most rural communities held at least one fair each year. The parish of Fortingall which embraced the whole of Glenlyon and Rannoch boasted ten at one period. The most important of these was Feill Ceit nan Gobhar or the Goat Market which was held in early December. At its peak it was reputed to be the largest fair held in rural Perthshire. Large numbers of goats from Lochaber and the Braes of Rannoch were exposed for sale each year, and quite a few sheep too.

It was also an important time for the annual settling of accounts between wholesale merchants from Dundee, Perth and Crieff and the local shopkeepers, joiners, blacksmiths and others. It was also a big social occasion with stalls selling all manner of goods and trinkets, with travelling salesmen, pipers, tinkers and a great throng of local people.

Because so many attended the fair it became a favoured place for the celebration of runaway marriages. It was easy for young people to go to the fair without attracting suspicion. The practice was sufficiently widespread for one or two men to become almost professional matrimonial agents. One of the best known was Alexander Mackercher, known as the Cripple Tailor.

It is related that upon one occasion he was able to lure away a lovesick young man who was staying with his parents at the inn at Fortingall. Mackercher had already made all the necessary arrangements, even to the extent of providing a bridesmaid. The local minister, who was sympathetic to runaway couples, was already waiting to perform the ceremony when Mackercher arrived with his young charges.

Afterwards they all returned to the inn where Mackercher broke the news to the young man’s parents by publicly toasting the young couple in their presence.

The Fortingall district was quite well known at this time for the sympathetic treatment of young lovers, a sort of northern Gretna Green. On one occasion the minister at Weem was on his way to conduct a service when he came upon a young couple emerging from the bushes in a state of some disarray. He was unabashed, but wasted no time in moral recriminations and married them on the spot.

After about the middle of the 19th Century, the Goat Fair declined in importance.