Preparations in full swing for Cork Summer Show next month

Mary Riordan of the ‘Irish Examiner’ with members of the Cobh Heritage Vintage Era Club, Mayor of County Cork Cllr Frank O’Flynn and Gerard Murphy, Munster Agricultural Society, at the launch of the Cork Summer Show. Picture: Clare Keogh

The countdown is on for the many organisers, competitors, traders, and members of the general public that will attend the annual Cork Summer Show next month.

On June 15 and 16, crowds will descend on the Cork Showgrounds in Curraheen, and the organiser Munster Agricultural Society (MAS) is hopeful for a better-than-ever turnout to the show, which has been running for over 200 years.

Gerard Murphy of the MAS said that everything is looking very positive for this year, with attendance last year around 43,000 across the two-day event.

“We had a very strong show post-covid, last year it kind of took a step back, this year we’re thinking we can catch up with the post-covid numbers again,” Mr Murphy said.

He is encouraging as many families as possible to attend this year, whether their main interests lie with the cattle showing, machinery, entertainment, or trade exhibition.

There was some criticism last year around an increased cost of entry to the event.

Mr Murphy said that this year, it is now free of charge for children under 16 years of age to attend, but they must have a ticket.

“That should help the families come along,” Mr Murphy said.

“When people analyse the pricing last year for a family ticket, we were still cheaper than a lot of the bigger shows around the country.”

Cork Summer Show competitions are now fully open for entries.

Competitors enter annually for the chance to win an amount from the prize money pot, or for the coveted red ribbon, or their name on the silver perpetual trophy.

Exhibitors are welcome from across the country for competitions in livestock, goats, pig and poultry, equestrian, vintage vehicles, baking, and more.

“The competition drives an awful lot of people [to the show]. One thing that took off in the last two years that we didn’t expect to take off so much was the poultry section,” Mr Murphy said.

He is urging those attending the show to take public transport for both traffic control purposes, and sustainability.

There will be very regular express bus routes to the site.

With an event running for as many years as the Cork Summer Show has, “you’re always trying to find something new”, according to Mr Murphy.

He said agricultural shows are important for getting farmers in particular out socialising.

Mr Murphy has been involved with the society for 20-odd years and has thanked the public for their continued support, along with the hundreds of people who work to get the event up and running each year.