Phil Hogan special guest at Virginia Show
One of the biggest agricultural shows of the calendar, the Virginia Show, celebrates its 75th anniversary when it takes place at the showgrounds by the shores of Lough Ramor today, Wednesday 24th August.
With a committee of over 200 and almost 500 classes, a lot goes on behind the scene and chairperson, Sean Farrelly and secretary, Mary Gaynor work hard to ensure all goes without fault.
Whether its cattle, horses, sheep, poultry, dogs, home industries, children’s classes or art and craft, there will be something for everyone from national finals to national qualifiers.
Virginia Show, which last year attracted almost 15,000 visitors, showcases top quality livestock, food and drink and rural living at its most vibrant. There is an all-encompassing range of events to suits all tastes, with up to 300 trade stands, live entertainment, artisan food producers, cookery demonstrations by Neven Maguire, fashion shows, sheep shearing demonstrations and children’s entertainment.
Free parking minutes from the showgrounds and competent traffic controls will make sure there is no difficulty getting to the venue.
The importance of the economic contribution of agricultural shows cannot be underestimated - agriculture in Cavan supports thousands of jobs in the rural economy, both directly in food and drink processing and also in the wider agri-industry, including input suppliers, agricultural contractors, auctioneering, transport and engineering and in accountancy, legal, veterinary and other advisory services. The role of agricultural shows like Virginia plays an integral part in promoting this area.
CLasses
One of the show’s big attractions is the high quality livestock, with displays of the finest cattle, sheep, goats and horses, as well as poultry.
With generations of careful breeding, years of expert husbandry and months of meticulous preparation, the animals are top class and represent the finest in stockpersons’ skills.
This years highlights include the 33rd Diageo Baileys €10,000 Champion Dairy Cow Competition; Gunne Carnaross Mart All Ireland €2,000 Male/Female weanling champion; Liffey Meats €2,000 Champion Beef Bullock; Univet Ireland Ltd and Virginia Show Commercial Heifer Champion; Glanbia Freisian In-Calf Heifer; Lakeland Dairy Champion of the Show; Clerkins Virginia Veterinary Practice Charolais Classes; North Eastern Club Charolais Junior Champion Final; North Eastern Club Simmental Junior Champion Final; AW Ennis Interbreed Champion; and the Francie Brady Charolais Champion of the Show, McEvoys Supervalu ICA guild Skills of the Year; Riverfront Bar and Restaurant Pastry Competition; Fleetwood Paints Amateur Art Competition.
Lifestyles
There will be quality trade stands brimming with home, garden, fashion, artwork and jewellery goods. The Food Hall building features gifts, clothes and food while the Trade Mall has everything from food to furnishing, coats to ceramics and shoes to sweaters.
Most companies keep on returning to Virginia Show and they are offered first refusal on their site. Information packs are sent out during the year and we are the show is almost always over subscribed, so applications should be sent in early. Priority goes to existing trade stands that were present last year.
Virginia Show promotes all that is good in rural Ireland; it has expanded from its agricultural base to hold an interest for all the family.