Tullamore Show an annual pilgrimage for tens of thousands – Minister

Tullamore Show and the FBD National Livestock is now an annual pilgrimage for tens of thousands of Irish people.

That's according to the Minister for Social Protection, Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary, who officially launched the show schedule at the annual sponsors night in the Old Warehouse in Tullamore in June.

The Minister lavished praise on the volunteers and sponsors who made the event possible every year.

"The show is 35 years old and has survived Covid, Brexit, foot and mouth, the financial crisis and poor weather and all the time it has gone from strength to strength and thrived."

Officially welcoming the large attendance of sponsors, public representatives and show executive members of the launch, Show Chairman, John Keena revealed that people who had successfully revived the show in 1991were still involved and had seen remarkable change in those three plus decades.

Welcoming the Minister, Mr Keena noted that his department generously sponsored agricultural shows throughout the country each year.

"If you have anything left over we will gladly take it," joked the Ferbane based farmer.

He also welcomed personnel from main sponsor FBD and singled out local branch manager, Amanda Brennan for special mention.

He revealed FBD had renewed their sponsorship contract for a further two years.

Mr Keena also welcomed one of the show's founders, Killurin's Freda Kinnarney who is the current National President of the Irish Shows Association.

He thanked the landowners, Annmarie and Stephen McQuade and Johnny Butterfield and adjoining landowners who provided land for car parking. Mr Keena also thanked local residents of the show area, the county council, Gardai and the Department of Agriculture.

He revealed that new elements to this year's event included a Young Handlers class, an outdoor demonstration area with experts explaining how to sow and grow prize winning vegetables and new attractions in the equine and cookery sections.

Mr Keena also revealed that the Minister's Parliamentary Assistant, Eamonn McCormack, who was present at the launch, had won the headline Odlums class in the Cookery Section in the past.

FBD's Pat Gilligan said as the only Irish owned insurance company they were delighted to be the main sponsors of the show and see at first hand "the excellence and dedication of everyone involved."

He pointed out that this year there will be an emphasis on generational renewal in agriculture at the show.

"The show is not just an agriculture event – it's a day out for both rural and urban people in an atmosphere that is unique."

Describing the show as "volunteer driven and led", Minister Calleary said for it to grow to the largest one day event of its kind in Ireland in a relatively short space of time was amazing.

"Tullamore is on the map in term of shows in a way that the founders could never have imagined,” outlined the Minister.

He praised the sponsors, in particular local sponsors, who had made the event a success and put their investment into the local community.

Minister Calleary also thanked the landowner and noted “it’s a big thing to give up your land for five or six weeks each year.”

He noted the prize fund of €175,000 and said such funding "doesn't come in from nowhere."

The Mayo based Minister said the show personified the great Irish sense of "meitheal" and as a result was prospering, strong and vibrant.

He revealed his Department had issued grants in excess of €1 million to shows across the length and breath of Ireland this year.

Describing the show as a pilgrimage for tens of thousands each year, Minister Calleary said that many organised their holidays around Tullamore Show.

He praised the spirit of volunteerism at work in the show and alluded to other volunteer organisations around the country.

"This is National Volunteer Week nd there is no better place to be this week than here," he stressed.

"Can you imagine if there was no GAA, Comhaltas, Chamber of Commerce and festival committees."

Concluding he singled out Show Chairman, John Keena and Show Secretary, Chelsey Cox for special mention.

Tullamore Show and the FBD National Livestock Show take place at the Butterfield Estate, Blueball on Sunday, August 9 next.

Tickets from tullamoreshow.com