AN award-winning Great Dane was one of the star attractions at the official launch of one of the major social events in South-East Clare.
Charlie the Great Dane helped to launch the 24th annual South-East Clare Show in Bridgetown, with his three-year-old owner and best friend, Brianna Lync,h and her mother, Arabella Scanlan.
This amazing dog, who captured the hearts of the country when The Clare Champion highlighted his uncanny ability to detect Brianna’s epileptic seizures up to 20 minutes before each episode, was coolness personified with all the hustle and bustle at the show launch.
Charlie has already been honoured by the Irish Great Dane Club for his amazing sixth sense and also received a Great Paws Award for his services, which will be featured on RTÉ again in the coming weeks.
With a total prize fund of €20,000 and more than 2,500 equestrian, cattle and horticultural entries expected, the 2014 show will draw thousands of people to watch feature classes such as Cavan Equestrian Centre Elite Sales Qualifier for young horses, Champion of Champions in the Limousin Pedigree Cattle Section and Odlums All-Ireland Home Baking Qualifier.
Richard Hackett, Clonlara brought along his prize-winning nine-month-old Charolais CF52 Bull, to give those in attendance an idea of what to expect in the 28 cattle classes scheduled for the show.
New activities for families, children and patrons, both in a leisure and competitive capacity, have been introduced this year.
In fact, the show, which will be held on Sunday, July 27 at Bridgetown Showgrounds, will have something for everyone, including children’s entertainment with bouncy castles, mobile pet farm, archery, ceramic making and many dog showing classes.
A selection of farmers market-style stands await visitors and this year, the team at the Irish Barbecue Association will join in to provide an atmospheric, dining experience. Competitors can also be in with a chance to win the Best Dressed Lady , Bonnie Baby or Little Miss competition.
A selection of vintage cars and tractors will be on display. East Clare Harriers Hunt will be parading the hounds at 3pm in the main jumping arena and spectators are advised not to miss the spectacle and selection of two and four wheel traditional driving carriages and horses.
A great selection of home produce and horticulture items, including a children’s section, will also be on view.
National and international riders will participate in many of the scheduled showjumping events, starting at 9.30am.
Members of the local Bridgetown community, councillors and show sponsors participated in the South-East Clare Show launch in the community green on Friday last.
The attendance was treated to an array of food and beverages, children’s entertainment and a visit from Clare Rose Joanne O’Gorman. The Liam MacCarthy Cup was on display and proved to be a popular photo opportunity.
The show has chosen Milford Care Centre as the charity of choice and Cathy Sheehan, head of finance, was present to represent the centre. The show committee looks forward to presenting a donation to Milford after the show, as the great charitable cause has provided great care for local people.
Dan Danaher
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.