Athlone Agri-Show set to draw crowds this Sunday

Another bumper Athlone Agri-Show will take place on Sunday, with gates opening at Showgrounds in Moydrum at 10am for the general public and 7am for exhibitors.

Among the highlights are the busy bovine section, the equine section (now seen as one of the biggest outside the Dublin Horse Show) and the Made in the Midlands Food Village & Craft Fair.

In the bovine section the Chairman Michael Flanagan, who is also the co-ordinator, has 85 showing classes for both pedigree and commercial animals, plus many qualifiers for the National Livestock Show.

In the pedigree section most of the Beef Breeds are catered for with the big prize here being the qualifier for the Aldi/ABP/Irish Angus All Ireland Pedigree Bull Calf Championships, with a prizefund of €20,000 in the Finals at Iverk Show.

The Kepak €1000 All Ireland Super Beef Heifer Championship always attracts a very big entry.

Aurivo Co-op has very kindly sponsored a number of classes in the Commercial Section and the local Homeland Store manager Jack Moran is looking forward to a big turn out.

Champion commercial will receive the McCormack Perpetual Cup kindly sponsored by the McCormack family from Tang.

The McCann Family Shield is always very keenly contested in the Young Stockpersons Class

No bovine exhibitor leaves Athlone Agri-Show without a prize, because at the end of the showing classes all exhibitors are invited into the ring with an animal and are issued with a ticket for a draw, with prizes varying from a week-end away, a round of golf, a variety of vouchers, plus many more novelty prizes, all kindly sponsored by the Athlone local business community and the Agri-Show.

EQUINE
The equine section will include 96 classes across eight arenas with judging starting at 10am.
There are classes for Brood Mares and Foals, Qualifier for the RDS 2016 Breeders Championship, Horse & Pony classes, Working Hunter, Registered Welsh classes, Connemara Pony classes and classes for Dressage and Sidesaddle. There are numerous qualifiers in the horse and pony sections with some very valuable silverware to be won.
Athlone Agri-Show presents a €500 prizefund for the best Brood Mare with Foal at foot and will be judged as a pair with the winner receiving the Tom Roche Memorial Perpetual Cup
The big attraction this year is the Irish Draught Mare & Foal Championship with a prize fund of €1,500 and the winner will receive the Brendan Gaffey Perpetual Cup.
In the Connemara section a prizefund of €500 is up for grabs in Class 34 for the best Registered Connemara Brood Mare with Foal at foot and will be judged as a unit.
Gillian Kinahan, equine secretary, assisted by Joanne Maguire and they are expecting a huge entry.
Jim Derwin Bloodstock, Athlone is sponsoring the Working Hunter and the Working Hunter Championship and is also presenting the magnificent Francis Derwin Memorial Cup to the Supreme Champion Horse of the Show.
The Cleary Family will present the Sean Cleary Memorial Perpetual Cup for the Racehorse to Riding Horse Class and the Dunning Family will present the David & Noel Dunning Memorial Perpetual Cup for the Champion Ridden Hunter.

FOOD VILLAGE
The Made in the Midlands Food Village which has turned out to be a great attraction over the past few years is back again bigger and better under the supervision of coordinator Martin Monaghan.
Martin expects a classic exhibition of the best of Irish produce produced in the Midlands. “The Food Village allows the local producers and suppliers to meet directly with their customer, relay the benefit of their produce and hopefully encourage shoppers to support Irish business”.

OTHER SECTIONS
The Ovine co-ordinator Colm Mee, is expecting a big entry for the Cross Bred All Ireland Finals, and once again Kepak Athleague is sponsoring the Kepak €500 Factory Lamb Competition which had a huge entry last year.
Back again this year will be the Welsh Lleyn Breed with five classes
With three major classes, Colm is expecting in excess of 50 goats to participate.
Cookery section co-ordinator Mary McCormack is again expecting a big local entry, but says she has enquiries from Mayo, Leitrim Louth, Meath, Dublin and Limerick, so the competition will be very keen. Judging starts at 12noon.
The Poultry Section has grown out of all proportion with 30 classes for all kinds of birds and five classes for eggs.
Co-ordinator Oliver Flanagan is expecting well in excess of 350 birds for adjudication.
The Poultry Section is sponsored by The Motte & Bailey Restaurant, Mount Temple.
The bring/sell/buy poultry fair proved to be a huge attraction last year and it’s a must visit on Sunday to witness the haggle and the banter.

TRADE STANDS
The Trade Stand Co-ordinator PJ Coghill, ably assisted by Deirdre Moxham, reports a huge uptake in trade stand space this year and expects a big variety of exhibitors, between indoor and outdoor stands ranging from farm machinery, motor cars, garden equipment, fencing products, home insulation systems to all kinds of new inventions.

CHILDREN’S AMUSEMENTS ZONE
The Side Shows co-ordinator Andy O’Donohue has lined up a variety of fun and games for all the children including a Mini Digger and Duck Pond, Score the European Cup Goal, Formula Fun Cars, Jump for Joy with Bouncy Castles, Quad Bikes, Slides, Gladiator Arena plus all the kiddies entertainment.
Pigsback.com will have a 20-foot giant inflatable pig on display.
The Tractor & Model Farm is a must see display of actual miniature farm machinery in motion doing everyday farm tasks on the farm.
The rare breeds are always a big attraction. On display this year will be the Irish Moiled Cow, Kerry Cow, Kerry Bog Pony, Galway Sheep and much more.

SUPER DOG SHOW
The Super Dog Show sponsored by Paws Pet Shop Athlone, and Pat Reddington Furniture & Carpets just gets bigger and better every year and co-ordinator Peter Devery will be operating in two rings, one for the small dogs and one for the big dogs, to facilitate the exhibitors and the large crowds.
The Devery family is presenting a cup, in memory of their daughter Ellen, to be known as the Ellen Devery Memorial Perpetual Cup, for the Champion Dog of the show, to rotate each year between the small and large breed.
Judging starts at 2pm.

ENTERTAINMENT
Open air dancing all day long in the beer garden with big screens for all the sports and musical entertainment.
Rumbles will provide hot lunches in the Catering Kitchen Dome all day.
The officers and committee of the Athlone Agri-Show would like to sincerely thank the many voluntary helpers who give so freely of their time and expertise on show day and also to the members of Moate Show for their co-operation.

ADMISSION
Admission to the show is only €10 for adults. Children are free as is parking.