Communities join forces for Tubber Show

SOUTH Galway and Mid-Clare parishes will unite at the weekend, for an action-packed programme around the Tubber Show. This year’s show coincides with the local festival, which runs from Thursday through to Sunday.
The event will be officially opened on Thursday night at the monthly singing and storytelling night in Whealan’s Pub with resident seanchaí, Joseph Kearney.
On Friday, the sheep fair in Tubber will start at 1pm. From ancient times, a fair was held in Tubber on July 12 and Connemara sheep were brought by herdsmen from West Galway and West Clare to the lamb fair at Tubber, which was in turn attended by buyers from Kerry, Limerick and Tipperary. After the fair, hundreds of sheep and lambs would be walked by drovers, who would shear some of the sheep to lighten their burden. Local organisers, Michael Roseingrave, Frank Donoghue, Shane Counihan, Paddy Walsh and Pat Roseingrave, have joined together to re-establish this famous fair with buyers invited from across the country. The night will come to a close with music at Finnerty’s bar, Tubber.
On Saturday morning, Tubber will come alive with the annual Horse Show on the lands of Paul Whealan.
This show has been growing in popularity and this year, because of the large number of events on the jumping schedule, proceedings will get under way at 9.30am.
Organisers Sylvia Egan, Ger Kelly, Gerry Foley, Noel O’Halloran, Fintan Earley and Brendan Madden predict a large contingent of riders will compete in the equestrian events from the participant parishes including Lahinch, Ennistymon, Corofin, Tulla, Crusheen, Ballinruan, Clooney, Barefield, Kilnamona, Peterswell, Gort, Ruan, and Kinvara.
In the first horse arena, competitions include 110cm, 120cm, and 130cm and a grand prix will also be held.
The second horse arena will accommodate the sportsman competitions.
The first pony arena will include 128, 138 and 148c and 128, 138 with 148cd.
Jumping arena two will have amateur classes, 128, 138 and 148ABC with lead rein as the final competition.
There will be competition for rider of the show, won in 2008 by Jessica Burke, former Irish international rider, from Gort.
For dog lovers, a dog show has been added this year with a wide variety of classes organised by Gerry Hehir, starting at 2pm.
The show dance takes place in Finnerty’s, Tubber on Saturday night.
On Sunday, Tubber pitch will play host to an 11-a-side hurling tournament involving senior club teams from Beagh, Kilbeacanty, Gort, Kinvara, Tubber, Corofin, Crusheen and Ruan, commencing at 12.30pm. Teams will be competing for a considerable prize fund.
Local historian Pa Howard asserts that the first tournament took place in 1962 with the Gort team emerging victorious. The first round was played on Ascension Thursday, May 31, 1962. The semi-final and final were played on Wednesday, August 15 that year with Gort beating St Joseph’s in the final.
The following year, Tubber scored a win over Gort by the narrowest of margins with the game finishing Tubber 0-3, Gort 0-2.
After the tournament on Sunday, the festival draws to a close with a set dancing night and barbecue at Finnerty’s pub.