‘All of Ireland’ turns out for show

THERE is no sweeter scent to the nostrils of country people than the smell of freshly cut grass in fields drenched with warm sunshine.

And so it was at Ireland’s premier show in Tullamore, Co Offaly, yesterday as well over 60,000 people sniffed the warm breeze and were overawed by the sheer scale of the event.

Parents pushed young children about in buggies and the champagne weather turned the site into Costa del Tulla.

There was also a spring to the step of farmers whose incomes are now set to increase after two years of below cost production.

And there was wall-to-wall good will as agri Ireland celebrated their €25 billion industry in the crowded trackways around the showing rings and enticing exhibitions.

“It is like a maze,” a breakfast time visitor remarked, as he studied the map of the 250-acre site on the Butterfield Estate at Blueball, three kilometres from Tullamore.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen broke his holiday to attend the spectacle in his home town.

He praised the organisers of the event, which incorporated the AIB national livestock show, and shared in the positive prospects for farming this year.

“There’s a far better buzz about it, a far greater degree of confidence coming back to the industry thankfully. That’s based on the fact we’re having better prices in milk and grain particularly this year.

“We’ve come through a couple of difficult years it has to be said, and farmers are just trying to get back to where they were,” he added.

The Taoiseach said the plans recently announced for farming were positive and ambitious and it would take a lot of work to allow the agriculture industry grow and prosper.

Some of the finest cattle in the world were on show and for those in need of retail therapy there were 650 indoor and outdoor trade stands to be visited.

Nearby, a company from Trean, Cleggan, Co Galway, with the delightful trade name of Henpecked was selling live hens and chicken coops.

Memories of other days were recalled by two old timers as they looked at a framed photograph on another stand, showing Muhammad Ali standing over Sonny Liston lying prone on the canvas of a boxing ring.

They were clearly fans of Ali. “He was the best showman ever,” said one. “He was truly on top of his game,” said the other.

“The whole of Ireland is here,” said Irish Shows Association chairman John O’Hara, who suggested the country’s network of shows should be put on the tourist lists because they are attracting huge crowds.