‘All Things Alpaca’ now two-day event
The Alpaca Association of Ireland (AAI) are expanding from a one-day competition to a two-day ‘All Things Alpaca’ event this year.
They aim to meet the growing interest from farmers and hobbyists keen to learn what’s involved in taking care of alpacas and how an alpaca business can be developed.
In just five years, the AAI have grown from participating in a general agricultural show in Dundalk to hosting a specialist alpaca event sponsored by FBD Farm Insurance, supported by Westmeath County Council and attracting more than 1,000 visitors in its first year.
Relaunching post-Covid in 2022, local community traders were introduced for the first time and proved such a success that they were invited back in 2023.
Now, in 2024 the show organisers are keen to give equal footing to all aspects of the alpaca industry and give an annual opportunity to the public, who have a huge fondness for alpacas to get up close to these gentle creatures.
To pack it all in, they have introduced a second day to their event, at the Mullingar Equestrian Centre indoor arena (eircode N91 EH30), making it a perfect place for a crisp March day out and a treat for Mother’s Day, especially as entry is only €5 per adult and children go free.
Day 1, Saturday March 9
The focus is on the ongoing growth of the pedigree national programme through a 100+ alpaca pedigree competition alongside the local community traders and fun events like inviting children to take part in a junior handling competition.
Day 2 Sunday March 10
Day two will be all about the products and businesses surrounding this vibrant farming community. Centre stage will be the annual craft competition, featuring creations made from alpaca fleece by crafters from all round Ireland in the previous 12 months.
Throughout the day, there will be qualified speakers on topics from promoting your alpaca business to organic alpaca farming, how DNA testing can help drive breeding decisions, fibre testing for nutritional insights, the benefits of Diatomaceous Earth and finally how to prepare a fleece for commercial processing delivered by Ireland’s first alpaca only fleece processing mill, Two Rivers Mill, which moved to Coleraine in 2023.
Breeders will be available to spend time with interested future owners or give mini trekking experiences to members of the public and showcase yet another vibrant business growing from this industry.
Both days will have face painting, professional photo opportunities and cakes and sweets to add to the community feel.
The show organisers, Helen Eivers and Paul O’Brennan, would love to see the public come out in even bigger numbers this year to support a growing diverse and sustainable farming industry, especially as they have been asked to host the World Alpaca Conference in 2027, which is to be hosted by Germany in 2025 following a 10,000 visitor strong event in Austria in 2023.