50,000 expected to attend Tullamore Show

SOME 50,000 people are expected to attend Tullamore Show, which will be held on a new site at Bluebell, three kilometres from the Co Offaly town.

The country’s largest two-day show, incorporating the AIB National Livestock Show, had to be cancelled due to weather conditions on each of the past two years.

But the organisers are now hoping the sun will shine this year on the event at the Butterfield Estate, which opens on August 9.

It will have more than 1,400 exhibitors competing in 1,000 classes for a prize fund of €160,000.

The country’s top cattle breeders and exhibitors will vie for 42 championships in the AIB National Livestock Show classes, and there will be 650 trade stands.

Ireland East member of the European Parliament, Máiréad McGuinness, will officially open the show.

Visitors from Germany, France, Austria, Denmark, Britain, and all over Ireland will attend the event. Chairman Tom Maher said this year’s show is set to break all records, more than compensating for the disappointment of previous years.

“Ann Marie Butterfield and her husband Steven McQuade have graciously accommodated the committee with the use of their estate, which covers over 260 acres,” he said.

Mr Maher said the executive committee is confident this year’s show will be the best yet.

“The confidence the executive committee has gained from the fact that our new free draining site cannot be flooded has permeated to everyone associated with the show.”

Mr Maher said the site sub-committee has put in much time and effort, in particular to ensuring that exhibitors will have appropriate parking facilities. The site will have parking facilities for 20,000 vehicles.

“Our sponsors have been our financial saviours. We have survived the cancellations of the last two years, due to their huge support and co-operation, which is very much appreciated.”

ltullamoreshow.com