'Extraordinary leadership' has ensured Tullamore Show's survival and growth

"EXTRAORDINARY leadership" at the helm of Tullamore Show and the FBD National National Livestock Show has ensured its growth and survival since its revival three and a half decades ago.

"To not only survive through tough times but to be in such a healthy financial position speaks volumes for the leadership of the event," the President of the European Economic Social Council (EESC), Seamus Boland told the AGM of the show on Wednesday night last.

The Island native, who is also CEO of Irish Rural Link, noted there were very few largely voluntary organisations with an annual turnover of €1.5million, which, he speculated, could be nearly doubled if all the unpaid for work was taken into account.

The meeting heard the show enjoyed an enormously successful year, attracting huge numbers and recording a surplus of over €130,000.

Thanks to all who made made the event such a success were extended by show chairman, John Keena, who paid tribute to one of the founders of the event, the late businessman Christy Maye, who he described as a "visionary".

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Mr Boland, who was the guest speaker at the AGM, stressed the importance of the show to the economy of Tullamore town and the surrounding area.

"I love the vision of Tullamore Show and its ambition. Tullamore said uniquely we're not going to be a small show attached to Tullamore but a national show."

He continued: "Tullamore is not too far behind the Ploughing in terms of quality and the numbers which attend each year."

The Island based farmer said he had been particularly impressed by the trade stands section at last August's show and also stressed the important role the sustainable village area can play in encouraging farm modernisation.

Reflecting on the international perception of the show, Mr Boland said his work at EU level had given him an understanding of the importance of the event.

"Not too many people abroad know of Offaly but they have heard of Tullamore and usually due to the whiskey connection. But I was at an event in Normandy recently and a delegate knew of the show and its importance."

The EESC President stressed the show highlighted the importance of the main industry in rural Ireland, agriculture.

He said one of the great threats to rural Ireland was the demise of farming and, in particular smaller farming units.

The Island native noted large consortiums were buying up farmland and farmers couldn't compete with them. "Lots of farms are being bought and the price range is out of reach of small to medium sized farmers."

"I raised this issue back in 2018 when I said there was a danger of going back to the days of landlordism."

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Mr Boland was installed as President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) at a ceremony in Brussels last October.

He told the attendance at Wednesday's show AGM he became involved with the EESC in 2012 through his work in community groups across the State.

The EESC is a consultative body of the EU established in the late 1950s under the Treaty of Rome. It is an advisory assembly composed of representatives from employers' associations, trade unions and civil society organisations.

Currently, EESC membership numbers 329 with the number of members per EU state varies according to the population of each state. Ireland has nine members, the same breakdown as for the Committee of the Regions.

Members of the EESC are divided into three groups of equal number, employers, employees and a third group of various other changing interests such as farmers, consumer groups, professional associations and so on.

Mr Boland described the EESC as being similar to Seanad Eireann and it processes most of the legislation that goes through the European Parliament.

"We have to deal with issues relating to the environment, consumers, energy and poverty," he outlined.

In his younger days, Mr Boland was deeply involved with Macra na Feirme, and reminded the show chairman, John Keena, of his role in the establishment of the Ferbane branch when he was in his late teens.

Speaking prior to Mr Boland's address, the show chief said he had known him through Macra and farming back to his young days and recalled often enjoying a cup of tea in his home at the Island, Ballycumber.