Agricultural show attracts crowds once more

 

HIGH standards were maintained and crowds came out in big numbers to support the annual North-West Clare Agricultural Show in Ennistymon last weekend. While many winners from last year came back to defend their titles, most of the cups travelled to different destinations this year.

The two-day event, held in the grounds of The Falls Hotel, kicked off on Saturday with the jumping events and a very attractive display of vintage cars, tractors and machinery.

Judging the horse section was George Chapman from Gorey. He said there was an excellent turnout for the show, one of the best he had seen for a long time. He added that it was unusual to have a filly named as supreme champion of the show, describing the Ennistymon champion as a very correct filly.

The showgrounds was a hive of activity from early Sunday morning, as the main parts of the show got underway. While some of the showing classes did not have as many entries as previous years, the visiting judges were full of praise for the standards all round.

There was the usual keen interest in the horse classes and the big winner was Michael Lyons from Birdhill, who was presented with the Costelloe Cup after his entry was judged to be the supreme champion of the young horse section. He also won the class for the best non-thoroughbred three-year-old filly calculated to make a huntress.

The reserve champion was shown by Fiona Hardy, Labasheeda, who won the class for the best non-thoroughbred three-year-old colt or gelding, as well as a qualifier for the All-Ireland Three-Year-Old Horse Championship for Bannow and Rathangan Show on July 11. Also prominent among the winners in this section were Sheelagh Barry, Inch and Stephen Culliney, Corofin.

Among the special award winners were Cathal Leahy, Cregg, Lahinch, who received a trophy for the champion in the Shetland pony section.
County Limerick exhibitors came out on top in the cattle section, with Shane Giltane from Croagh being awarded the Ulster Cup for the supreme champion in the cattle section, as well as winning the yearling heifer class and the qualifier for the Greenvale Animal Feed All-Ireland Beef Heifer Championship at Strokestown Show on September 7. The reserve champion in the cattle section went to well-known exhibitor and supporter of the North-West Clare Show, William R Gubbins, Kilfinane. He won the classes for the best two-year-old heifer (non-pedigree), beef breed and best beef bullock (any age), as well as taking the Connacht Gold Feeds ATP All-Ireland Beef Bullock Championship at Strokestown Show.

Martin Ryan, Thurles, who judged the cattle, said he was very impressed by what he saw. Standards in a lot of the classes were absolutely outstanding and some of the animals would be in the shake-up for All-Ireland competitions. He also had special praise for the commercial classes.

North Clare exhibitor, Kevin Howley, Derreen, Kilshanny, was presented with the Vaughan Cup after winning the supreme champion of the sheep section, as well as the classes for best butcher’s lamb and for hogget or aged ram.
The name of Pakie Curtin, Moymore, Liscannor, appeared prominently in the list of winners in the donkey section, winning three of the four classes.
He won the classes for best female donkey in foal and best donkey foal, as well as the All-Ireland Donkey Mare Championship qualifier for the Ballinasloe Show on September 28. He rounded off a good afternoon by winning the Vaughan Cup for the supreme champion in this section.

Elsewhere, there was plenty of variety in the showgrounds, with the dog show attracting the usual interest.

The Teresa Coughlan Cup for the supreme dog of the show was presented to Martin Murphy, Gort. Other winners were Andrea O’Brien, Kilmaley (terriers); Nicola Barton, Blackrock, Dublin (collies); Martin Murphy (gundogs); Eamon O’Shaughnessy, Ballyneety, Limerick (toy dogs); Kyle Swayne, Gort (puppy led by a child); Ester Fahy, Gort (dog led by a lady); Daniel Murphy, Virginia, Cavan (any variety working class); Lauren Nicholas, Clouna, Ennistymon (any variety not classed); Alice Flanagan, Ballinruan (dog I would like to take home); Elaine O’Brien, Gort (best groomed dog) and Rachel Scanlon, Quin (best dressed dog).

The bonny baby of the show prize went to Jayne Nagle, Liscannor and Cathal Vaughan, Liscannor was named as the bonny boy.

The toddler girl prize went to Maisie Mogan, Kilfenora and the toddler boy was Cian O’Mahony, Limerick. Tommie Conway and Sean were the the most appropriately dressed adult and child.

The tug-o-war challenges, organised by Tom Kennedy, attracted a lot of enthusiasm and the winners were Liscannor (eight-a-side for primary schools), who beat Furglan in the final; the Curtin Agri team from Lahinch, who beat Liscannor in the open five-a-side final and Daly’s pub, Ennistymon, who beat McHugh’s of Liscannor in the confined five-a-side mixed final.

The winners in the promotion in aid of the North West Clare Agricultural Show Society were Paddy O’Brien, Kinielty, Liscannor; 2, Sue Garrihy, Clooneyogan, Lahinch and 3, Tom Carkel, Kilfenora.