Fantastic day out: North Tipperary Agricultural Show makes hay while the sun shines

Rain was on everyone’s lips at this year’s North Tipperary Agricultural Show on Bank Holiday Monday.

However, for once it was about the lack of it and not the constant deluge that the country has been under for the past four weeks.

On a day of warm sunshine around 7,500 people filed into The Showgrounds on Borrisokane Road in Nenagh for the annual event, one of the country’s longest running agricultural shows, dating back to 1875.

The three designated car parks were full from early morning - and people stayed longer than usual to enjoy the attractions.
Woolys Farm from Moneygall had a long line of young and old animal lovers all day - with a petting area for children and alpacas and even a llama tickling the interest of any farmer who might be thinking of switching from cattle.

Judging by the care and attention being given to the show cattle, many of them wouldn’t object to a spa weekend at a five-star resort such was the pampering, scrubbing, combing and washing that was going on ahead of being shown in the ring.

It was the price of cattle and more specifically the price of beef from the processors that was exercising the minds of those at the IFA stand, where IFA president and Toomevara farmer Tim Cullinan had probably been hoping to have a day off from talking about nitrates directives and carbon footprints. Perhaps he should have skipped out to the baking tent for a cup of tea and a well-earned piece of fancy cake.

As well as the cattle and ponies being put in the ring, there were those who were throwing Tim’s name into the political ring for when he leaves office.

Indeed, agricultural shows always attract their fair share of politicians and North Tipp is no different, with local councillors Ger Darcy and Joe Hannigan strolling around.

And though not quite up there with the famous Galway tent, both Jackie Cahill and Martin Browne had tents where you could get a cup of tea and a bun (Jackie) or hear about the more pressing issues of the day such as homelessness (Martin).

But the main topic on all their minds was who will run (or not) in next year’s local elections, and how many TDs Tipperary will have in the next general election.

Those on the inside believe that parts of Kilkenny will come into Tipperary, which will again have two constituencies. Now that arrangement should be interesting come All-Ireland final day.

Of course, the show would not happen without hard work and Chairman Brendan Murphy was quick to thank all the volunteers - including the work put in by Supt Ollie Baker and his team - who helped out on the day and throughout the year both at the show and putting together the Nenagh Classic Car Club rally, which attracted 387 exhibitors with cars from the turn of the 19th century right up to the millennium.

“We wouldn't have been able to fit any more in,” said Brendan.

He was extremely happy with how the show went, pointing to the good weather and the added attraction of live music throughout the day, with Aishling Rafferty headlining on stage.

Work has already started on the 2024 show, with the committee having their first meeting in the next couple of days, he said.