Cappamore show to celebrate its golden jubilee
When the Golden Jubilee of the founding of the local agricultural show at Cappamore in East Limerick is celebrated, with the holding of the 2004 renewal on August 18, the organisers will have earned the distinction of carving several niches in the history of popular rural events.
It’s odds-on that the sun will shine on the show grounds at Cappamore on Wednesday the 18th, to complete the remarkable achievement of 50 years of fine weather for the show, where the locals believe that “it can’t rain on show day“.
Local dairy farmer, Paddy Ryan, will be completing four decades as secretary of the event; he is believed to be the longest serving secretary of an agricultural show in the country.
The President of the Committee, Jimmy McCarthy was one of the founder members of the show in 1954, and is therefore marking half a century of continuous service to the show, and treasurer, Pat Fogarty, is completing 30 years in office. Between these three leading show officers, they have a total of 120 years of service to the event.
Another founder member, Michael Ryan, will also be completing half a century of continuous involvement with the running of the show.
Long serving officers head up the organisation of the event, but the 100 strong organising committee can boast of the highest percentage of young people in any such committee around the country, and sponsorship support which is probably unparalleled for any event of its size, with sponsorship from 120 companies, businesses and individuals supplying the financial life blood of the show over the years.
Secretary Paddy Ryan said, “There is no doubt there is something unique about the show and the place it holds within the community. Everyone is willing to help the show in anything we ask of them”.
When the show was first held in 1954, it was organised with the proceeds of a church gate collection, and there were 250 exhibits in 24 classes, competing for a prize fund of £250. The total cost of running the inaugural show was £2,370.
For the Golden Jubilee show, there are 450 individual classes, and thousands of exhibitors, competing for a prize fund of €40,000.
Along the way, Cappamore Agricultural Show has been awarded the RTE Landmark farming programme’s trophy for the best rural show, and a 30 minute slot in the network’s former flagship farming TV programme highlighted the local community’s involvement in the show, and how show.day is regarded as a local holiday.
Paddy Ryan added, “There is certainly something very remarkable about the record of good weather for the show, that in 49 years we have never had a wet day” He added, “Even in the worst years for weather that came, it was recognised in the area that the show day would be fine, and it often meant that some people had to stay away from the show to do farm work. Even in 1985 and 1986, two of the worst years that came, when it rained almost every day through the summer, and we were forced to move the show on to a hard surface, because field conditions were so bad, I remember that the sun shone for show day”.
This year’s show will be held on spacious new grounds at Bilboa, a short distance from the town of Cappamore, with space to allow for the considerable expansion of the show.
In addition to the regular cattle classes and the Cappamore Show championships, this year’s programme includes the €2,500 Golden Vale Marts All Ireland Commercial Championship for beef bullock or heifer; the Munster Pedigree Charolais Calf Championship qualifier; and the Aberdeen Angus All Ireland Championship.
The cookery section includes a qualifying round for the Festive Cook of the Year Final (in conjunction with Moate Agricultural Show), and there is also a fashion section, arts and crafts, horticulture and a photographic section.
Horse and pony sections and an attractive show jumping section also feature on the programme.
Side shows will include the All Ireland Senior 8lb Sheaf Throwing Championship, Fancy Dress Parade, Bonny Baby Show, Carriage Driving and a pet dog show.
