Show organisers showered with praise

THE energy that voluntary workers put into organising some 200 rural shows countrywide each year has been praised by the Irish Shows Association.

As the five-month showing season gets under way, ISA chairman George Durnin, Beamore, Drogheda, hailed the contributions of local committees, sponsors, the media, exhibitors and others to the success of the annual events.

Shows have a long tradition in rural Ireland but, this year, organisers will be hoping for better weather than in the past few seasons when rain created difficult ground conditions at many venues and forced the postponement and even cancellation of some fixtures.

Upcoming events include the 56th Kingdom County Fair in Tralee on May 15, Bandon Show on May 22, Claremorris Spring Show and the centenary celebrating Midleton Show, which are both fixed for May 29.