Up to 60,000 keep it country for 25th anniversary of Tullamore Show

With as many as 60,000 people coming through the gates on a dry August day, the Tullamore Show could not have wished for a better 25th anniversary event yesterday. It was in 1991 that local publican Christy Maye and a number of others decided to mount an agricultural show on a two-acre site close to the town centre. Encouraged by the initial reaction, they moved to larger grounds at Charleville Estate.

The foot-and-mouth disease outbreak of 2001 caused the show’s cancellation that year, but it returned and continued to expand.

Disaster though struck in 2007 when the summer flooding made the showgrounds impassable and the event had to called off at late notice. The same fate befell the show in 2008 and it was decided another move was in order, this time to a drier site a few miles outside the town at Butterfield Estate.

Yesterday’s event covered 250 acres and saw entries in nearly 1,000 competitive classes, with 700 trade stands. Show chairman Rodney Cox said he was proud the event had matured to become the number one national livestock show in Ireland. “Even at times of economic distress, the show not only endures but grows,” he said.

This year a Russian delegation toured the show, following in the footsteps of the Chinese who visited in previous years. “What better way to promote the best of Irish produce than inviting people to a show of this size? They’ve all taken to the show so well and they’ve seen rural life at its finest.”

Above all, the Tullamore Show, which incorporates the AIB National Livestock Show, is a family event. In the horticulture tent, Aoife Walton from Strandhill, Co Sligo, was delighted to have been named winner in the Tray of Vegetables competition.

Her selection of onions, carrots, parsnip and tomatoes swayed the judges. She dedicated the victory to her late father Mick, who died in June, and she was proud his grandson Ciarán (12) had won the under-18 version of the same competition.

Elsewhere, a massive crowd of onlookers enjoyed sheepshearing competitions. In the hand-shearing final, two of the four finalists were related. Galway man Tom Holleran was able to keep ahead of his nephew, Seán Holleran, parting two sheep from their wool in seven minutes and 29 seconds.

Minister of State for Agriculture Andrew Doyle opened the show. The Minister stressed it was a crucial shop window for the agri sector. “Without a vibrant primary production sector, the rest of the food chain falls down. It is shows like this that demonstrate the value of farming to rural life and way beyond it.”