Moates 173rd agri show takes place this weekend
Few local events can trace their roots right back to 1839.
But Moate Agricultural Show is still going strong - with final preparations well underway for the 173rd show this weekend.
Several thousand people are expected to descend on the Showgrounds, Moate, this Saturday for what promises to be a great day out for all ages, with plenty to see and do for those interested in agricultural matters and those who are not.
“The entries are good so far, in comparison to other years, there are more at this stage in the cattle classes, horses, sheep and cookery,” Show Secretary Angela Jordan said. “All we’re hoping for now is a dry day and a good crowd.”
Two of the highlights at the show again this year are the All-Ireland Filly Foal final, sponsored by local firm AB Oil, and the Chocolate Cook of the Year All-Ireland Final, sponsored by Digan’s Londis Filling Station, Moate. Entrants to both of these contests have qualified to take part in Moate from shows nationwide.
Moate Agricultural Show also hosts ten qualifiers for All-Ireland Finals to be held at other shows throughout the country later this summer.
“We try to vary it every year and introduce new things. We have lots of free children’s entertainment with bouncing castles, free pony rides, face painting and exotic animals this year,” Angela detailed.
Children will be admitted free as long as they are accompanied by an adult. There will be live music at the show all day and a performance from local company, Dancezone. In addition, there is an exciting enterprise pavilion again this year showcasing small scale food enterprise, crafts, alternative farm enterprise and rural tourism and a large selection of trade stands.
Again, the popular dog show is back this year which always draws a large audience, while the show also hosts a dog agility demonstration this year.
In all, there are a huge 294 classes in the show, ranging from show horses, show ponies, showjumping, cattle classes, sheep and poultry competitions. Then of course, there are the usual vegetable classes, fruit, flowers and floral arrangements, cookery, a new ICA competition, homemade preserves, honey, homemade wine, photography, arts, photography, arts, country crafts and needlework.
Fifty-one of the classes are confined to children alone and those under 18 with overall winners to be crowned in art, handwriting, poetry composition, crafts, cookery, and photography, to name but a few.
Finally, organisers of Moate Agricultural Show would like to thank all of its sponsors for their continued support and without whom, the show would not be able to continue. Sincere thanks also go to Anthony Browne from AB Oil for the use of the showgrounds for the 2014 event.