The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
THE grounds of The Falls Hotel, Ennistymon will once again be one of the most popular venues in North Clare over the June Bank Holiday weekend for the North-West Clare Agricultural Show.
Once again it is a two-day event and kicks off early on Saturday with the pony jumping competitions, scheduled for 9.30am. In all, there will be 10 jumping events, including five qualifiers for the Shannonside League. In addition, a Stubbens saddle will be presented to the leading rider.
Some 13 years ago, there was an excellent vintage display on the opening day of the show. It was revived last year but patrons were deprived of the opportunity of enjoying it because of the poor weather. It is back again this year and organsiers are hoping the weather will be more favourable this time round to view the display of vintage cars, tractors and machinery, starting at 11am.
The main part of the show is on Sunday with an early start for judging of the showing classes, horses, cattle and sheep.
The indoor section in the nearby vocational school will be as colourful as ever with lots of interest in crafts and home produce. Judging will start at 10.30am and the hall will be open to the public for viewing from 2pm.
The dog show has established itself as a very important part of the show with entry numbers growing by the year. Dogs of all sizes, colours and breeds will face the judges from 3pm in the area of the tennis court. Organised by Katherine Comber, the show will have additional classes this year. Missing will be Tom Barry who helped in organising the dog show. His death occurred since the last show in Ennistymon as did that of Michael Comber who was a familiar figure at the entrance gate on show day.
Other events such as the most appropriately dressed lady, bonny baby and tug-of-war events make the North-West Clare Show a great family attraction. The tug-of-war will start at 3.30pm with an open five-a-side, followed by confined five-a-side mixed and an eight-a-side for primary schoolchildren.
