Pampering till the cows come home

THE lovely Roses of Tralee didn’t even come close to the pampering that went on in Virginia, Co Cavan, yesterday.

Some of the finest ladies in the land spent hours being groomed and manicured before appearing in front of 15,000 people.

People tended their every need so that they all looked their best when they took part in a parade on the shores of Lough Ramor.

They had stayed overnight in Virginia College and yesterday they had the use of a marquee where they were observed by judges and public alike.

Like the Roses of Tralee, they all looked lovely and fair, having been brushed and combed with care and style.

But in the words of the Kerry anthem, it was not their beauty alone that wooed the discerning ones. Oh no, ’twas clearly the truth in their eyes ever dawning as they strutted their stuff in the glorious sunshine of Costa de Sol- type weather.

Their escorts, neatly attired in black and white, were on hand to steer them in the right direction with a guiding nudge or two.

These were, of course, no ordinary ladies, but some of the finest cows in the world, and they wore their sashes with pride.

Kevin Dillon did the Ray D’Arcy bit by giving a commentary on each of the 25 ladies as they paraded with grace and elegance.

These were some of the finest dairy cows and heifers in all of Europe and they were competing for an €8,000 prize fund and the overall title of Baileys Irish Champion Cow.

Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan was on hand to present the prizes while Ministers of State Brendan Smith, Trevor Sargent and Seán Haughey, along with Glanbia vice-chairman, Liam Herlihy, were also there.

And on a day when good-humoured references were made to the Roses of Tralee, it was perhaps entirely apt that the champion cow should be owned by John and Tim Kirby, who just happen to hail from Duagh, Co Kerry.