Show will go on, whatever the weather

Ireland’s longest- running agricultural show opens for the first time today on its new permanent site.

After torrential rain forced the cancellation of last year’s Cork Summer Show for the first time in its 171-year history, organisers say they are prepared for whatever the weather throws at them this weekend.

The show, staged by the Munster Agricultural Society at the vast new complex in Curraheen, will attract an estimated 25,000 people, with almost 1,000 animals featuring in showing classes.

A special agri-forum seminar will take place across the weekend, chaired by IFA deputy president Eddie Downey and Patrick Wall, chairman of Horse Sport Ireland.

The talks will tackle issues such as the challenges facing agriculture, and developments in the agri-business industry.

Back in the city, hundreds of flags will be raised above the city’s landmark Shandon steeple today as part of one of the largest community arts projects ever undertaken on Leeside.

The Voices from Shandon project was conducted in collaboration with French artist Didier Gallot-Lavallée in schools and communities to mark Ireland’s hosting of the EU presidency.

The flag-raising ceremony marks the end of the project, which saw 1,000 schoolchildren create flags representative of their own identity.

Composer John O’Brien was also commissioned to write a series of original compositions to be sung by children of Scoil Aiséirí Chríost, North Presentation Primary, Cork Educate Together and St Maries of the Isle.

The flags and choral ceremony will take place above Shandon at 5pm today.

Tomorrow night, boy- band The Wanted perform at Live at the Marquee in Cork’s docklands.

In West Cork, Mad Pride Ireland stage a family fun day in Skibbereen Town Park, from 1pm to 5pm tomorrow.

The Cumasú Wellness bus, recently launched by the HSE in West Cork, will visit the event.

The focus of Mad Pride’s family fun days is to engage the community through fun and laughter, thereby breaking down stigma and increasing awareness and understanding of the normality of madness.

Similar events will take place in Listowel, Co Kerry and in Templemore, Co Tipperary later in the summer.

Meanwhile, highlights of the 98th Clonakilty Agricultural Show will be showcased to an international TV audience on Sky TV next Thursday.

This year’s event was recorded by Irish TV, the producers of the weekly Out and About in Ireland show for Sky’s Channel 191, which is due to be broadcast at 9pm next Thursday.

“It is so important that we showcase all that is good and positive about the agricultural sector and this international TV exposure is certainly a very positive step forward for us,” said Donal McCarthy of the Clonakilty Agricultural Show.