Summer show set to serve up food and fun

Dogs might have to be kept on a lead but a cow, a calf, a horse, and a pony were let loose in a city park yesterday to help launch the 171st Cork Summer Show.

It’s set to be a historic event for organisers, the Munster Agriculture Society (MAS), as it will be the first to be staged at the society’s new headquarters on the western outskirts of the city.

MAS spokesman Gerard Murphy marshalled the animals in Fitzgerald Park as details of the three-day event, of which the Irish Examiner is media partner and which runs from June 15 to 17, were announced.

“This will be the first year the summer show is staged on grounds we own ourselves,” said Mr Murphy.

“This will be a learning curve for us as we get used to the contours of the new site.

“You never get it all right the first or second year. The layout next year may be totally different to this year.

“But we’re very excited and there will be a lot to learn.

“The site features massively increased car-parking space and we’ll have much better traffic management coming in to the site, as well as a shuttle bus.”

The society moved in 2009 from its centuries-old base at the Showgrounds in Ballintemple following a compulsory purchase order by Cork City Council.

Recent shows were staged in Ballincollig but following the joint acquisition by the society and UCC of 126-acres of land at Curraheen, this year’s show will be staged across 80 acres opposite the Curraheen greyhound track.

Up to 25,000 people are expected to visit the show over the weekend.

It will open on Friday with the “highland games” — a battle amongst some of the strongest men in Ireland.

There will be over 170 trade stands and over 50 stands supplying artisan and local foods, a huge display of farm machinery and equipment, and showing classes for cattle, horses, sheep, goats, poultry, and rare breeds, as well as interhunt chases, harness racing and an international farrier competition involving blacksmiths from all over the country.

On the Saturday, the show will host terrier racing, and the pedigree dog competition will take place on the Sunday.

A series of cookery demonstrations, sponsored by Ryan’s Supervalu, featuring top Cork restaurants including Fenns Quay, The Cornstore, Les Gourmandises, Isaacs, Rising Tide, Amicus, The Blue Haven, Kinsale, and the River Lee Restaurant will take place in the food marquee.

There is a €3,000 prize fund for the best dressed lady competition.

* The entrance fee is €5 for students and over-65s, €10 for adults. Children under 12 are free. More details at corksummershow.com.

Charity BBQ

* The Cork Summer Show will host its first fundraising barbecue as part of this year’s event to help two local children’s charities.

The cook-up on the Saturday night of the show weekend will raise money for the Children’s Leukaemia Association and the Cork Association for Autism.

Munster Agriculture Society chairman Eddie Barrett said the group was delighted to support both organisations which make a significant difference and contribution to the lives of so many in Cork.

Tickets for the barbecue, which is sponsored by the Liam Ryan Supervalu chain and which will feature entertainment by the Irish Weavers, cost €25.

They are available from the two charities, and from Mr Ryan’s shops at Glanmire, Grange, and Togher.

They will also be available at the summer show on the Friday and Saturday.