Organisers of Ireland’s oldest agricultural show were toasting another overwhelming success in south Kilkenny this week.
The annual Iverk Show in Piltown, which regularly attracts crowds of around 20,000 people, pulled in the punters by the thousands last Saturday, with record numbers of people through the gate according to show president Joe Malone.
For the first time this year’s show was moved to the last Saturday of August instead of the first Thursday of September, and with entries up in all areas it looks likely to continue on the Saturday in the future.
“There were record crowds this year and that was the answer to that,” said Mr Malone.
Celebrating its 184th year in 2010, the biggest agricultural show in the south-east, which draws contestants and spectators from across the country, looks like only getting bigger.
“Our biggest problem from now on will be space and that is something that we are going to have to look at before next year,” Mr Malone continued.
“The show was opened by MEP Sean Kelly and in the afternoon Barry Andrews, the Minister for Children, came down. It was his second visit and he just loves it, he went around meeting different people and made several presentations.
“The atmosphere because of the All-Ireland was amazing. We’re always around the time of the All-Ireland and there have been some terrific days because of that.”
