Shows key to rural development
MORE THAN 1m people are expected to attend rural shows, food and flower festivals, traditional horse fairs and ploughing contests over the next six months.
All will provide a shop window for the country’s agricultural sector, bind people from town and country in social and economic wedlock, mirror the past and signpost the future.
Agricultural shows represent a 200-year-old tradition. They play a central part in the development of farming. And they bring urban and rural people together.
The 140 local shows held annually provide a display platform for livestock, bloodstock, produce, agri trade and services.
An estimated 540,620 people attended these shows in 2011. Total expenditure by spectators and exhibitors topped €35m. Some 11,500 equine classes helped to attract over half of the attendees.
Additionally, the National Ploughing Championships, which will be held for the second successive year in Ratheniska, Co Laois, in September, is the biggest crowd puller of all, with 230,000 attending last year.
It is estimated that visitors to the annual three-day event spend just under €36.5m, resulting in a tax take of over €6.6m for the Exchequer.
The celebrated Discover Ireland International Horse Show held over five days at the RDS (August 6-10) contributes an estimated €43m to the economy.
More than 60,000 people attend the one-day Tullamore Show (August 10) while the five-day Millstreet International Horse Show (August 13-17) is another big attraction.
Two of the country’s oldest shows have moved to new locations. Cork Summer Show is now held at Curraheen (June 13-15) while Balmoral Show (May 14-16) is on the site of the old Maze-Long Kesh-H Blocks prison near Belfast.
Shows differ, of course. Virginia, Charleville and the National Dairy Show in Millstreet concentrate on providing a platform for the best cows.
The celebrated Connemara Pony Show held in Clifden, Co Galway, every August and the high profile Bord Bia organised Bloom flower festival in Dublin over the June Bank Holiday weekend are also specialist events with big public interest.
This year the annual calendar of shows has one-off prestige events such as the Golden Shears World Championships (May 17-25) which is expected to attract 40,000 spectators to Gorey, Co Wexford.
The World Flower Show, to be hosted by Ireland for the first time, is expected to generate revenues of €10m for the economy when it is held at the RDS (June 18-22).
This year’s season starts with shows in Thomastown, Co Kilkenny (May 3-4), Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co Clare (May 4) and Leap, Co Cork, (May 5).
Fine weather is crucial to the success of all the events, many of which had to be called off two years ago due to heavy ground conditions caused by heavy rain.
Organisers, mostly volunteers, realise how important it is to balance their show programmes. A mix of serious competitions with a direct appeal to exhibitors, breeders and competitors and a range of family attractions are essential for success.
That’s why events such as old time threshing, sheep dog trials, baby shows and best dressed lady competitions are held on part of the grounds while promising hunters, pedigree cows and various sheep breeds are judged in other parts.
Shows, of course, have an infectious appeal for many people. Late entries, contrasting accents, aloof looking judges and fussing secretaries looking for cups which were not returned by last year’s winners add to the buzz of show day excitement.
That is an integral part of show days which have become more costly to run. Insurance cover is now a big burden. But great efforts have been made to prevent accidents.
Much good work is done by the Irish Shows Association (ISA), a 32 county umbrella body headed by Jim Harrison, president, and Michael Hughes, secretary, in securing sponsorship, regulating championships and arranging dates.
The country’s shows also provide young people, many of whom are growing up in urban areas, a greater appreciation of rural life which is now under constant pressure.
In the process, they will hopefully become more aware of the importance of farming and agribusiness and that town and country people really depend on each other for survival in these challenging economic times.
* www.irishshows.org
