Agricultural shows play important role in exhibiting farming excellence

THE agricultural shows which begin over the May Bank Holiday weekend are much more than a great day out for rural people — they also play an important role in raising standards in the country’s sport horse, livestock and artisan food sectors.

Total agri-food exports exceeded €8 billion last year. Over 90% of Irish beef is now exported to the high-value European Union market. And the sport horse industry is estimated to be worth at least another €200 million to the economy.

It is against that background that support for the country’s shows, a feature of rural life for the past 200 years, has been announced by Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan.

The support, which amounts to €70,000 this year, will be made available through the Irish Shows Association (ISA), the umbrella body for show societies to which some 135 bodies are affiliated.

It is aimed primarily at reducing the contribution which each show makes to the public liability insurance fund operated by the ISA and will, therefore, reduce the running costs of all shows affiliated to the umbrella body.

Minister Coughlan said she believes that agricultural shows play an important role within the farming sector generally in improving the quality of farm animals and in providing a showcase for artisan foods at local level.

“These shows are also a valuable traditional social outlet for the rural community, both farmers and other rural dwellers,” she said.

Noting the amount of work that voluntary committees put into organising the shows, the minister said part of the funding will be used to assist the ISA in introducing courses for the training of young people to become future exhibitors, stewards or junior judges.

The support was announced as the ISA, headed by chairman Dorothea Lazenby, Gorey, Co Wexford, vice chairman and treasurer David Sheehan, Rockbarton Stud, Bruff, Co Limerick, and secretary Michael Hughes, Mountbellew, Co Galway, prepared for the new showing season.

Ms Lazenby, who also paid tribute to the huge number of voluntary workers, stewards and judges who organise and run the shows, said that safety will again be of paramount importance this year.

“Everyone must continue to be vigilant,” she said.

The fixtures will continue until the end of September with the Fáilte Ireland Dublin International Horse Show (August 8-12) and the Tullamore and AIB National Livestock Show (August 12) again dominating the calendar. More than 1,000 horses and ponies competed for €750,000 in prize money at last year’s five-day Dublin Show in the RDS, which cost some €3m to stage.

Innovations introduced on that occasion to reward improvements in the breeding and performance of Irish-bred sport horses are being developed further this year.

Meanwhile, Tullamore Show, the country’s premier livestock event, continues to grow. It now has an overall prize fund of €155,000 and is expected to attract an attendance of 55,000. Over the next five months, judges will be on the look out in the showing rings for the traits of agility, soundness and jumping ability.

And in the cattle sections, dairy and beef breed experts will be seeking the type of animals that the Irish livestock industry needs to produce the high quality product demanded of today’s prime markets. Agribusiness leaders agree that in a period of great change in farming it is important that agricultural shows continue to triumph.