In pictures: Kingdom County Fair kicks off 2024 show season

7-year-old Noah O'Connell from Ballyheigue, Co Kerry. Picture: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD 

It was a royal start to the show season for many who competed at the Kingdom County Fair last weekend.

The fair, held at Ballymacthomas, Tralee, Co Kerry, returned for its 74th year drawing crowds to the sunny showgrounds for the programme of events across Saturday and Sunday.

Liam (2) and his sister Kate (4) from Co Cork. Picture: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD

Chairman James Tarrant said that the show committee is “thrilled” with the crowds that turned out across the weekend, and he expects the number of people who entered the grounds has topped last year’s figure which was upwards of 4,000.

It was a fun-filled weekend for all the family as thousands of people attended the show. Picture: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD 

Being involved in the show in any way is “so rewarding”, and many shows like this are run by a “small committee, with a lot of work” gone into them, and Mr Tarrant is urging everyone to support their local events this summer.

He said there is a “real problem” of social isolation, and agricultural shows must continue to make a contribution in combatting this.

“It’s good for the mind and good for the body to get out and meet people, it’s not so good to be isolated and sitting at home and not enjoying life enough,” Mr Tarrant said.

Over at the show rings, Neil Blennerhassett from Beaufort was enjoying his first time out competing this year.

Neil Blennerhassett from Beaufort, Co Kerry, with his Belgian Blue heifer. Picture: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD 

It has been his hobby for around five years. A dairy farmer, cattle showing “gets me out on a Sunday, and I just have a great interest in beef cattle and show cattle”.

Competing for him on the weekend was a Belgian Blue heifer off a Limousin cow and a pedigree Belgian Blue heifer.

“We’re only here for a bit of fun, the young lads are small and kind of getting into it as well,” he said of his son (9) and daughter (11).

For Mr Blennerhassett, “it isn’t about winning, it’s about just going out and meeting people and if you win, it’s great”.

“I’ve met a lot of nice people since I started this,” he said.

“It’s nice to see new people coming in at it, you see new faces every year.”

Peter Kennelly from Ardfert has been showing cattle for about 50 years. His granddaughter, 12-year-old Clodagh, had a successful day in the ring at the Kingdom County Fair.

Peter Kennelly from Ardfert, Co Kerry. Picture: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD 

“It’s our hobby, we have no interest in football or hurling,” Mr Kennelly, who runs the Askeragh herd, said.

The first venture into the ring of the year is important as it shows “if the training has worked” and to see how the cattle compare to their competitors, he added.

Clodagh Kennelly from Ardfert, Co Kerry. Picture: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD 

John Joe Rahilly from Rathmore, competing in the sheep classes with his 11-year-old son Jack and his two friends joining him, said that “after a bad spring”, the day out at the fair “brought the spirit up again”.

John Joe Rahilly from Rathmore, Co Kerry, at the sheep show event with his 13 awards. Picture: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD 

Many ribbons were won by the team at the fair, instilling confidence in Mr Rahilly.

He finds a big part of the animals winning is down to this: “if you’ll be kind to them, they’ll be kind to you”.

Daniel O'Donovan from Co Cork. Picture: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD