Voluntary input may be shows’ secret ingredient

THE agricultural shows will remain uniquely rural - if the farmer who has headed one of the most successful of these events for almost half a century has his way.

“I hope the day will never come when people are paid to run the show, because that will kill the spirit of the community coming together to do something for themselves,” said dairy farmer Paddy Ryan, who may be the longest serving secretary of an Irish agricultural show.

As a teenager, he became secretary of the fledging show at Cappamore in the north east of Co Limerick in 1960 - a position he has continued to shoulder to this day.