Fingers crossed for sun after last year’s washout

The organisers of Ireland’s longest-running agriculture show have their fingers crossed for an extended heat-wave ahead of what’s poised to be an historic event for them.

After torrential rain forced the cancellation of the 2012 Cork Summer Show, the Munster Agricultural Society (MAS) said it is prepared for anything this year, as it gears up to host the first show on its new permanent site.

“It was very unfortunate last year but we learned a lot from that experience,” MAS chairman Eddie Barrett said.

“Being on a permanent site now in Curraheen has allowed us to install a lot of infrastructure such as an internal road network.

“It will facilitate the preparation of the site, the installation of trade stands, and will also help with the movement of people and traffic should we have similar weather conditions to last year.

“But given the weather conditions we have at the moment, we seem to be on a favourable track.”

The 172nd Cork Summer Show will take place across the weekend of June 15 and 16. Supported by the Irish Examiner, it is expected to attract some 25,000 visitors.

It will feature showing classes for a range of animals, a display of rare breeds, pony club games, harness racing and an international farrier competition.

Breeders will compete for the MAS All-Ireland Holstein Friesan Senior Cow Championship, the MAS Munster Pedigree Beef Heifer Calf Championship, and the Munster Premier Simmental Cow Championship, sponsored by Mohona Simmentals and Lake House B&B, touted as the richest beef cow championship in Europe.

In a new departure, the show will feature a special Agriculture Forum with IFA deputy president Eddie Downey hosting a series of lectures on agri-food and agribusiness.

The Curraheen site will accommodate more than 170 trade stands and a food market, with events like a strong man competition, horticulture displays, arts and crafts exhibitions, vintage machinery displays, martial arts, gymnastics and BMX displays, cooking demonstrations and live music running across the weekend.

A dedicated Festival4Kidz, complete with a cinema tent and bouncy castles, will cater for the younger ones.

A charity barbecue will take place at 6.30pm on the Saturday to raise funds for the Cork City Hospitals Children’s Club, with tickets from tel: [phone].

With ample free parking on-site, a free shuttle bus service will also operate from Ballincollig Shopping Centre. The show runs on the Saturday from 9.30am-6pm and on the Sunday from 9.30am to 6pm.

Children under 12 go free, student and pensioner tickets are €5, with adult tickets are set at €10.

*Full details from www.corksummershow.com

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