Farm safety awareness tractor drive launches at Tullamore Show on Sunday
€175,000 is to be competed for at the 2018 Tullamore Show & FBD National Livestock Show this Sunday 12th August, at the 260-acre showgrounds.
Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed will attending the Offaly site to officially open the event, which is in its 27th year.
Exhibitors will be hoping to get their hands on the 42 national titles that are up for grabs in over 1,000 classes. A team of international judges will have the tough decision of selecting the winners from the thousands of competitors through 14 sections.
The Best Dressed Lady on the day will be walking away with over €1,000 worth of prizes and there will be fashion shows throughout the day at 12.30pm, 2.30pm and 4.30pm to help you stay on trend.
Country singer Declan Nerney will be on hand to perform at the Country Jamboree with Stephen Rosney and the Back Axles and Larissa Tormey also taking to the stage.
The largest number of entries in any floral display in the country will be on show in the Horticulture Section.
The Livestock classes will thrill you. Cookery classes will be a feast for the senses. The Dog Show will have you jumping through rings. The Arts and Crafts will inspire you. The Poultry will make you stand to attention. Competitors at the Tullamore Show do not disappoint. There are competitors attending, who have not missed a show since 1991, and in their 98th year, as well as children who are entering for their first time. A truly cross generational event.
Farm Safety will be a strong theme at the show, with FRS Farm Safety Demos through the day and the Embrace FARM Tractor Drive launch by Mairead McGuinness MEP.
Bord Bia will be presenting Cookery Demos with the famous Neven Maguire at 11am, 12:15pm and 2:15pm. Padraig Og of Boxty House, Dublin will also share his cooking secrets.
It will be a close shave at the Sheep Shearing Stage as shearer George Graham will be giving demonstrations and a talk about how to comply with new regulations.
There will be a lot of mucking around as the ever-popular pig agility course is making a return to the Butterfield Estate.
The rare breeds section is a must see for all the family with everything from goats to pigeons. A special little addition to the bill this year is the inaugural Miniature Pony Carriage Driving display at 12 noon. 1.30pm and 2pm.
Alpacas are also making a return to the showgrounds this year and you won’t want to miss the National Fleece Show or the shearing demonstrations.
€2,000 is up for grabs in the National Inventions Classes. Competitors will be showcasing their innovative ideas in agriculture, horticulture, and forestry. Over 700 Trade Stands will be on site, with everything from fine foods to foraging equipment.
For machinery enthusiasts, the top tractor dealers, and agricultural machinery will be all exhibiting a wide range of agricultural machinery and equipment among many more. This show is at the top of its class, offering a professional yet friendly event, offering something for all the family.
Tickets are available on line with Early Bird Discount until Saturday evening. For more information see the Tullamore Show Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat account or visit www.tullamoreshow.com.
Embrace Farm Safety Drive
Embrace FARM, the farm accident support network founded by Brian and Norma Rohan, will embark on its next journey shining a light on those who have lost their lives or have been seriously injured in farming accidents and for farm safety awareness, by driving a tractor around the 32 counties of Ireland this autumn.
With a tractor kindly donated by WR Shaw of Tullamore and driven by volunteers from Macra Na Feirme and the Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster, the tractor will touch the grass roots of each county during its drive.
The launch of Our Drive to Remember will be performed by Mairead McGuinness MEP at 1pm on Sunday 12th August at Tullamore Show from the WR Shaw stand. The finish point of the tractor drive will be on the opening day of the National Ploughing Championships (NPC) on Tuesday 18th September. With the support of the National Ploughing Association (NPA), this drive is aimed at reaching all walks of life.
Mounted upon the tractor will be an eternal light representing those that have lost their lives around the Island of Ireland. With around 290 lives lost in the last ten years, representing a farmer killed every 2 weeks across the 32 counties, the tractor will display these stark statistics to remind people to be always aware of the farming environment and to farm safely. The light will also be displayed during the NPC once the tractor has reached its final destination.
Embrace FARM is asking all families and neighbours who may have been affected by the loss or serious injury of a relative or friend in a farming accident to please place a pair of wellies in the trailer attached to the tractor on the drive. These wellies will feature at (the Embrace FARM stand) at the Ploughing Championship and represent the feet that once walked the farm.
Embrace FARM highlights the necessity for farm safety alongside the Health & Safety Authority (HSA) and the Health & Safety Executive of Northern Ireland (HSENI), farm organisations and Agri-businesses in whatever way they can to ensure farmers work safely to reduce the weekly deaths and farming accidents.
There will be social media updates every day from the tractor drivers on the Embrace FARM, Macra na Feirme, NPA, YFCU and WR Shaw Facebook & Twitter pages as well as on the individual club pages showing how the tractor is doing on its journey. The tractor will also be fitted with GPS technology so people can follow its journey online. Please use the hash tags #WeRememberYou and #FarmSafety on all social media reference to the drive.
If you wish to support the cause and the lives it represents, donations are acceptable through the www.embracefarm.com website or on the idonate.ie event page. Please contact the Embrace FARM Team at 085-7709966 or email embrace.farm@gmail.com for further information or requests.