Cork agricultural show running since the 1960s forced to cancel

An agriculture and horticulture show which had been a summertime feature in Cork since the 1960s has been cancelled.

The long-term future of Ballingeary Show, near Macroom, remains in serious doubt.

The organisational burden on the show’s existing committee and lack of new volunteers coming forward were cited as the reasons for the cancellation of the show, which had celebrated its 50th year in 2014.

In addition, last August’s show was one of several in recent years to have been badly affected by rain. The elements had also forced its cancellation in 2012. Last year’s show, however, went ahead but made a loss of €6,000.

Efforts were made last year to attract new volunteers to assist in the organising and stewarding of the show. However, it is understood there had been much disappointment at the turnout to a public meeting held last September.

In recent weeks, it was officially decided by the show’s committee that the event will not proceed this year.

The committee’s PRO, Mary Rose O’Mahony, said: “It definitely won’t be held this year, and we’ll have another meeting to see about future years.”

A public meeting has been fixed for August 5, and the committee said it will then make a decision on whether to revive the show in future.

Ms O’Mahony explained: “For members of the committee, our summers revolve around the show. I’ve been doing this for the last 15 years but several other committee members are at it much longer, and it is a huge commitment.”

Assistant secretary Eileen Buckley added: “We don’t know if we will hold it again.

“The weather was against us for last year’s show and the committee are getting tired of running it. It’s hard to continue with the work every year and then, after all your efforts, it doesn’t pay off.

“The meeting on August 5 is to make people aware of the situation and see if anyone is willing to take the show on, but the previous meeting had been very poorly attended, so it will depend on this meeting as to what happens in future years.”

Ballingeary had an extensive range of animal classes and had also featured competitions for fruit and vegetables, cookery, arts and crafts, children’s entries, as well as numerous displays and side shows.

A number of show winners in the livestock categories in Ballingeary traditionally went forward to compete in shows such as Bantry as well as at Ballinasloe and Mountbellew in Galway.