Scaled-back summer show on cards after washout

There are hopes that a scaled-down version of the Cork Summer Show could go ahead next month after the weekend’s events were completely washed out.

It is understood it is the first time in the history of the 171-year event that the entire show has been cancelled.

The Munster Agricultural Society, which organised the show, said it would take “a serious financial hit” because of the cancellation.

Vice-chairman Gerard Murphy said there would also be a sizeable loss to the local economy, with hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, and pubs losing out. He said exhibitor and trade entry fees would be refunded over the next three weeks.

This year’s show — which was to have been the first on the MAS’s new Curraheen site — was gearing up to be one of the largest in its history, with a record 194 trade stands lined up.

Up to 30,000 people were expected to visit one of the country’s largest agricultural festivals.

Almost 100 people were to be directly employed, with about 60 more due to work with outside contractors.

However, the torrential rain which forced the cancellation of the first two days of the event then forced organisers to take the decision on Saturday to cancel Sunday’s events too. Mr Murphy said the ground was saturated and there were health and safety concerns around the management of exhibitor and visitor vehicles entering the site.

“We can’t do a whole lot about the weather, but I think people accept that we made the right decision.”

MAS officers are expected to hold talks over the coming days to see if a slimmed-down event could be built around a showjumping competition due to take place at Curraheen on July 13 and 14.

“It would be impossible to re-do the full exhibition side of the show in this year’s calendar,” said Mr Murphy, “but we are looking at the concept of doing some trade stands around the showjumping event in July”.

A strongman competition took place on site yesterday, and the hunt harrier show has been rescheduled for Saturday.