Mullingar Agricultural Show is back this July
Missing from the summer schedule for the last two years due to the Covid restrictions, Mullingar Agricultural Show is back this July – and the organisers are really looking forward to welcoming crowds once more, says show PRO, Paddy Donnelly.
The show is taking place on July 10, and the closing date for entries is July 1 – and only pre-paid entries will be accepted.
All entries can be done online, via mullingaragrishow.com, but they can also be submitted in writing to the show secretary, Eileen White, ‘Jaina’, Moigh, Ballymahon.
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Rodney Windrum, Oliver Moore and Christopher Dolan.Image 2 of 5
Paddy Donnelly, Rosaleen Barry, Minister Peter Burke and Eileen White.Image 3 of 5
Des Farrell, Oliver Moore, Michael McDonald, Minister Robert Troy, Martin Ginnell, Joe Henson and Margaret Henson.Image 4 of 5
Olivia Crumm, Roger Nicholson, Des Farrell, Michael Kenny, Declan Rowe, Arthur Neal, Tom Moore, Susan Nooney, Christopher Dolan and Minister Peter Burke.Image 5 of 5
Paula Mullen, Maureen Gaynor, Ann McDonagh, Agnes Moore, Aidan Keena, Oliver Flanagan, Andy Bannon and Niamh McGuinness at the official launch of Mullingar Show on Friday.“We’ve had no show since 2019 – but the fact that we have our own grounds means there’s work being done continuously there,” says Paddy.
“It takes a lot of maintenance every year to keep the place ship-shape, and so it’s all hands on deck all the time.”
That means that when it was clear that they could go ahead with a show this year, the organisers were able to hit the ground running, and focus on putting together the best programme possible.
“We’re just hoping that people will be delighted to get back out in big numbers again,” says Paddy.
He is confident that there is plenty to encourage both a big entry and also plenty to entertain the attendees.
“We have a great lineup for both entertainment and in the entry segment,” says Paddy.
Top of the bill on the entertainment side is singing star Declan Nerney, who is to perform on stage from 3pm to 5pm, while later entertainment will be provided by Ray Dolan.
“We have lots of entertainment there for the kids,” says Paddy.
There is also extensive on-site catering, and a large number of trade stands – and of course the chance to see lots of animals, enjoy the showjumping and check out the entries in the fruit, flowers, vegetables, baking and craft classes.
On the competitions side, the usual livestock categories apply, but there are some new classes of note that are guaranteed to garner a fair degree of interest:
“We have an All-Ireland for Belclare and we have the national show for Jacob sheep,” says Paddy.
There are also several qualifiers – including one for the All-Ireland Irish Angus Bull Calf Championship and for the Angus ‘Tread na hÉireann’ event at Iverk Show; there is also a qualifier for the All-Ireland Non-Pedigree Suckler Heifer Championship.
Mullingar is also one of the shows selected as a location for the Department of Agriculture championship for four or five star continental breeding heifers, for which there is a prize fund of €750.
‘Beef to the Heel’
An important feature in the schedule is the annual Mullingar ‘Beef to the Heel’ championship.
Activity will begin on the field from around 8.30am, and different competitions begin from around 10am, starting with the pony and horse showing classes.
Judging finishes around 1.30 or 2pm in the garden shed where the garden produce, cookery and crafts classes are displayed, and the sheep shearing takes place at 2pm.
“That competition has got very popular in the last number of years,” says Paddy, adding that for the sheep shearing event, entries are taken on the day.