Preparations for one of the largest open-air events in the midlands are nearing completion at the beautiful Charleville estate, on the outskirts of Tullamore, Co Offaly.
The Powers Gold Label National Livestock and Tullamore Show on Sunday is likely to attract at least 35,000 visitors to the grounds. The event's success depends on a huge input of local voluntary labour. Over 800 are involved in getting the one-day event up and running, and the voluntary committee running it always begins work on the next show the day after the show finishes. This year, the statistics relating to the show are very impressive indeed. There will be a combined prize fund of £80,000, with 32 national titles and over 500 classes in all livestock areas. According to local businessman Christy Maye, there will be over 200 trade stands and the expected 35,000 visitors will create a need for more than 6,000 car spaces.
"We are lucky in so far as the Charleville estate is very large and is an enclosed site and we can offer free parking to those who want to come to the site," he said.
"This show could not be held without the voluntary input. It is a huge input from so many people because it now costs in the region of £200,000 to stage the event," said Mr Maye.
"It is due to that input that we can hold the event which was only revived seven years ago and what is also very important is that on the committee is a diverse range of people.
"This means that there is something for everyone at this show. No one will go away disappointed. There is a huge range of events going on as part of the show, many of them not related to farming at all," he said.
"What we are planning is a great day out for the people of the midlands and the people of the country in general. We are looking forward to it ourselves."
Tullamore Show now stages most of the events which used to take place in the show rings of the Royal Dublin Society during the old Spring Show, held each May until about seven years ago.
All the best Irish animals travel to Tullamore. A local stockman estimated that the cattle on show will be worth at least £5 million.
Horses and ponies have not been neglected either, with no fewer than 86 events. More than 1,000 horses and ponies have already been entered to compete for the prize fund of £18,000 in the 100 classes in nine arenas laid out for them.
A new development at the show will be a Forum of Food Safety, which will hear the head of the new Food Safety Authority, Dr Paddy Wall, explain how farmers can assist in keeping Ireland's food safe.
The Health and Safety Authority will be there too, attempting to demonstrate to farmers how they can make the farm a safer place to work.
There will be a heavy emphasis on rural development, with Offaly Leader 11, Offaly County Enterprise Board and Teagasc taking 8,000 square feet of exhibition space.
It will feature many of the business developments in the county which have been set up under the various schemes, a practical demonstration of what can be done to keep people in rural Ireland.
And for those who might be tempted to go to Croke Park for the Offaly v Clare hurling clash, there will be a special large television screen on the 120-acre site carrying live coverage of the game.