Local Fine Gael councillor, John Dolan, has welcomed the announcement from Minister Heather Humphries of increased Government funding for agricultural shows.
“Minister Humphries has always been a great supporter of our agricultural shows, but this year her department has increased the funding to the extent that both Athlone and Moate agricultural shows will receive in excess of €9,000 in a grant from her Government department as part of a major increase in funding to the shows nationally.
“I want to thank the show’s association and Minister Humphries for this important level of funding which ensures that the Athlone and Moate shows can now be hosted. As chairman of Athlone Agri Show we hosted one of our most successful shows to date, with well in excess of 5,000 people attending from all around the country and many from overseas also.
“This is just the latest demonstration of this Government’s commitment to farming and indeed rural Ireland and we are lucky to have a Minister like Heather Humphries who endeavours to give all the support she can and hopefully she will continue to do so,” Cllr Dolan concluded.