It’s show time on the border line

A COMBINATION of South Galway and Mid-Clare parishes will unite this weekend, putting together an action-packed programme, scheduled around the Tubber Show. Festivities will continue this year from Thursday to Saturday.
The event will be officially opened on Thursday night at the singing and storytelling night in Whealan’s Pub with resident seanachai, Joseph Kearney.
On Friday, the sheep fair in Tubber will take place from 1pm. The local organisers include Michael Roseingrave, Frank Donoghue, Shane Counihan, Paddy Walsh and Pat Roseingrave. The local farmers 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 Pub, Tubber.
From ancient times, a fair was held in Tubber on July 12.  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.
This year, a perpetual trophy will be presented for the best pen of lambs in the show.
On Saturday morning, the village of Tubber will come alive with the holding of the annual horse show on the lands of Paul Whealan. The show has been going from strength to strength and this year because of the large number of events on the jumping schedule, proceedings will get underway at 9.30am.
In the equestrian events, with a total prize fund of €10,000, a high calibre of competitor is expected. 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 first horse arena, competitions include 110cm, 120cm, and 130cm. The Connaught Grand-Prix will also be held, carrying a valuable prize fund.
The second horse arena will accommodate the sportsman competitions. The first pony arena will include 128, 138 and 148c and 128, 138 with 148cd, while jumping arena two will have amateur classes, 128, 138 and 148ABC with lead-rein as the final competition.
For dog lovers, a dog show has been added with a wide variety of classes being organised by Gerry Hehir, to commence at 2pm.
The finale of this year’s festival is a set-dancing night and barbeque on Saturday in Finnerty’s pub, Tubber.
On Sunday, the Ardrahan Agricultural Show takes place at Labane. There is a wide range of horse and pony classes, including many qualifiers for the Irish Shows Association National Championships, the Northern Ireland Festival, and the Irish Pony Society Championships.
Ardrahan will once again host the All-Ireland Ridden Hunter Championship and the All-Ireland Ridden Irish Draught Championship, with a prize fund of €2,000 and €1,600 respectively.
There is a wide selection of classes in the sheep section, including classes for Galway, Suffolk, Beltex and crossbred. There is a special young stockperson’s event, in which handlers under 16 years of age can use their skills in how to handle and show their sheep.
The Ardrahan show also has a range of poultry classes, including a qualifier for the national championships, while the ever popular dog show is a must for all canine lovers.
Added to this, there is a variety of family entertainment, including a bonny baby contest and the most appropriately dressed lady. There will also be trade stands and children’s entertainment.
This week also saw the launch of the 30th Gort Show Schedule, which always proves popular with those intending to take part. This year, the Gort Show takes place on Sunday, August 7 and after record numbers participating and attending last year, organisers expect the 2011 event to be even bigger.
The booklet is available from Minihane’s Supervalu, Gort and various outlets around the town and surrounding villages.
Alternatively those interested can get in touch with the organising secretary, Amanda Anderson through Facebook (Gort Show), by telephone on 085 2477486 or by email to secretary@gortshow.com. The schedule is available on www.gortshow.com. Ms Anderson is also looking for volunteers who wish to help out on show day, or before, either in administration or more physical work to get in touch with her.