€1 million to support agricultural shows across country

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has announced an investment of €1 million to support 122 agricultural shows across the country.

Each show will receive a grant of €6,000-11,000 depending on size, to support each committee to prepare for the show season over the summer months. Mullingar Agricultural show is to receive €9,250, as will Athlone and Moate.

The funding brings the takes brings the total allocated to agricultural shows since 2018 to some €4.3 million.

Local allocations:

Westmeath: €35,965

Athlone Agricultural Show, Sun 16th June, €9,205

Midlands Connemara Show, Sun 28th July, €8,350

Moate Agricultural Show, Sun 25th Aug, €9,205

Westmeath Show Society (Mullingar), Sun 14th July, €9,205.

Minister Humphreys made the announcement as she launched the 2024 Yearbook for the Irish Shows Association (ISA) via video link in the Mullingar Park Hotel.

She said: “I’m delighted to announce a further investment of €1 million to support 122 Agricultural Shows right across the country.

“Our agricultural shows play a vital role in community life and raise awareness of the important role agriculture plays in society.

“The shows are the threads that build bridges between our towns and villages, and the hinterlands that support them. They act as a platform for local producers to showcase their products and have become a key date in the calendar for the farming community.

“Our shows sum up all that is good about country life and I’m delighted to support them, once again, through this substantial investment.”

This year’s €1 million allocation builds on the allocation of €1 million made in 2023. The Department of Rural and Community Development will work with the ISA to administer the scheme for 2024.

They are encouraging participating shows to be more environmentally aware in delivering their shows.

Initiatives in the areas of waste management, responsible printing, use of single use plastics, and appropriate traffic management should all be considered with a view to showcasing best practice in the area of event management and becoming more sustainable.

The minister continued: “I would like to acknowledge the ongoing efforts of the show committees, volunteers, sponsors, local businesses and local organisations that play a role in each of these shows. The shows would just not happen without their support.

“I hope to attend a number of the shows around the country this year. Finally, I would encourage everyone to go along to their local show – you will be surprised with all that the agricultural shows have to offer.”