What was a green field site only a few weeks ago is now being transformed into a tented village and all preparations underway as the Tullamore Show and FBD National Livestock Show fast approaches.
August 13 is a date long marked on the calendar for many from the Midlands region as the perennially popular annual livestock show officially opens to the public at 12pm on Sunday.
Here’s a synopsis of what to expect to see on the day
· The inaugural sustainable livestock village will be officially launched at 10.30am by Minister Charlie Mc Conalogue. Celebrities from the farming world and many other sectors will be in attendance.
· The show will be officially opened at 12pm by Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue. Many other dignitaries will also be in attendance.
· Olivia Douglas will entertain the throngs of spectators with many other musical acts at various times throughout the day. A full list of artists to be found on our website.
· The dairy section has put a massive effort this year encouraging the youth in the young handler and the young showmanship challenges, in the 12 to 26 years over three classes. This section hosts a total of almost 40 classes, across three breeds, Holstein Friesian, Jersey and Dairy Shorthorn. The classes of note include - Class 51: Super €2,500 National Holstein Heifer in Milk and Class 52: €2,500 FBD National Livestock Show Senior Cow in Milk.
· The pedigree section has Twelve breeds with Limousine, Hereford, Simmental and Charolais holding their National Titels at our show. There are young member’s classes and young handlers’ classes throughout the show. We endeavour to encourage young people to carry on the tradition of showing cattle which is an art in itself.
Commercial cattle boasts six new classes
o Male/Female calf class weighing up to 270kg,
o New class for Blonde calf weighing up to 385kg
o New class for Best Blonde X Animal.
o Best pair of Commercial Calves or Senior Cattle.
o Factory classes including Dawn Meats, Kepak, & Moyvalley Meats
o Young Handler classes 8-11 years.
· The sheep section has again the biggest number of entries on record with new breeds being accommodated like Lanark and Swaledale. Here it will be a hive of activity with sheep shearing demos, mental health talks by George Graham and sheep dog demos.
· Alpacas, rare breeds along with Highland Cattle and the stunning Valais black nose Sheep (also known as BO Peep Sheep ) will all be on show for all the family.
· The Irish Pig Society hold their All-Ireland Pig of the Year.
· In the Horse section for the first time ever entries will be taken on show morning. The most elegant class is the Ladies Side Saddle.
· The Fashion Arena will have fashion shows throughout the day. And also, competitions for the best dressed lady, the most traditionally dressed Farmer and Bonny Baby with amazing prizes to be won.
· There are classes for dogs including obedience classes and even a class for the waggiest tail.
· The indoor sections including crafts with the finest of patchwork quilts, horticulture with vegetables and flowers you thought could never be grown so perfect.
· Cookery competitions including mouth-watering cakes breads and scones and the final of the Odlums Home Baking Championship. Chef Adrian Martin will give baking demos in the Odlums Pavilion and Chef Neven Maguire will be in the Simply Better Pavilion throughout the day.
· The presentation of National Invention and Agventions awards.
· The senior final of the All-Ireland Home Cook Champion
· Art & photography will have works of art and photography on show.
· The poultry competitions and some of these may even have been to the beauty parlour.
· Farm Safety demos and Macra Farm skills
· Forestry and sustainable living exhibition has now become a very big attraction at the show.
· Workshop with talks from herbal medicine to vegetable growing.
· Hundreds of trade stands offering all you will need for home, business, garden or farm, children’s entertainment and food village offering great variety of food.
· A special attraction for 2023 will be the hot air balloon displays from the Irish Hot Air Balloon Championship
Tickets, priced €20 each, are on sale online at www.tullamoreshow.com or can be purchased on the day for €25. Why not skip the queue and scan it through?
Tullamore Show really is a great family day out with free entry for children under 12.
Check out all social media accounts for updates and key features of the Tullamore Show and FBD National Livestock Show.
