Welcome funding boost for local Agricultural Shows

The annual Agricultural Shows in Athlone and Moate are among the beneficiaries of funding in the region of €6,000 each under the Department of Agriculture's Project 2040 'Our Rural Future' programme.

Details of the funding were announced earlier today (Tuesday) by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, who said Agricultural Shows signal “fun, energy and a sense of community” for rural dwellers, and are “a shop window” for local produce.

“I believe it is vitally important to our rural communities that we support the efforts of the show committees and the hard work of their volunteers, and I hope this funding will help put the shows on a firmer financial footing and will provide vital support to the committees” added the Minister.

Moate Show takes place on Sunday, August 28, while Athlone Agricultural Show made a very successful return to the local farming calendar in June following a two-year Covid hiatus.

Among the other Agricultural Shows in Westmeath to receive funding are the event in Mullingar and also a Show organisers by Midland CP Breeders. All Shows which are being funded will receive their allocation based on their vouched expenditure.

Shows in Roscommon, Ballinasloe and Tullamore are also in line to receive financial allocations of between €5,000 and €6,000 from the funding round announced by Minister Humphreys today.

The Department of Rural and Community Development funding is administered by the Irish Shows Association (ISA). The ISA is the official recognised body representing Irish Agricultural Shows on the island of Ireland. It has more than 130 affiliated agricultural shows (10 based in the North), which run throughout the summer and into the autumn each year