Moate show postponed due to adverse weather

Moate Show has been postponed from this Saturday, August 23, until Saturday, September 20, due to the adverse weather conditions in recent weeks. With Tullamore Show cancelled just ten days ago, the organisers of Moate Show were faced with the difficult decision this week to rearrange the show in a bid to ensure it is not cancelled altogether. The oldest agricultural show in the country, this is only the third time since the show began in 1839 that it has been interrupted. It was cancelled during World War I and again a few years ago due to foot and mouth. With 350 classes the show is sure to attract a large number of visitors when it finally goes ahead to take in the cattle, sheep and poultry classes, as well as showjumping, art and crafts, children"s painting and cookery. Spokesman Padraig McNeill said this week the organisers were obliged to run the show at all costs as four All Ireland finals were to be held at Moate show with finalists having qualified the length and breadth of the country. He said, however, the organisers made the difficult decision this week to postpone the show as some areas of the park were under a foot of water and said there would have been difficulty with parking. The event is now scheduled to go ahead on Saturday, September 20, at the new town park with gates opening at 8am and judging beginning at 10am.