Entries up as Athlone Agri Show declared ‘a fantastic success’
The expansive 40-acre site at Garnafailagh which has been home to Athlone Agri Show for the past three years proved “the ideal location” for this year's sun-kissed event which attracted families from all parts of the Midlands and further afield on Sunday.
That's according to show PRO, Michael Flanagan, who predicts that the Garnafailagh site for the show - the farm of Michael O'Donohoe on the outskirts of Athlone - is “here to stay”.
With a flawless traffic management system in operation throughout the day, thanks to the efforts of volunteer stewards and members of An Garda Siochana, and a packed schedule of events with something to cater for all ages and tastes, the annual show was “a huge success,” said Michael.
“Each of the team leaders was responsible for their own section of the show, and everything worked perfectly. The all-important sunshine was a huge help as well,” admitted Michael, who said organisers got “very positive feedback” from those attending.
With the event once again coinciding with Father's Day, many attendees decided to make it a family affair. One of the many fun events organised as part of the Father's Day festivities was a father and son or daughter egg and spoon race, which attracted a sizeable entry and was great fun for onlookers and participants.
Michael said entries were “well up on previous years” in all animal classes, including, cattle, sheep and equine, with a number of All-Ireland title ups for grabs.
“We had over 107 classes for horses which led to over 600 horses being entered in the show, and we had over 700 sheep representing 13 different breeds,” he said.
Cattle classes, which had experienced a decline in recent years, were also very strongly represented, which bodes well for the future of Athlone Agri Show.
The real maple dancefloor, which was installed on the site especially for dance lovers, proved “hugely popular” according to the PRO, who said the dancefloor “was packed all day with young and old alike,” as county music sensation Robert Mizell & Country Kings were a big hit on the day.
Add ducks, alpacas, pygmy goats, dogs of every breed, shape and size, donkeys, poultry, full bar and catering facilities and myriad other attractions into the mix and Athlone Agri Show had it all, and then some!
Among the well-known faces in attendance were Midlands North-West Fine Gael MEP Nina Carberry, local Minister of State Kevin 'Boxer' Moran, and the current President of the Irish Shows Association, and long-time stalwart of the hugely-successful Tullamore Show, Freda Kinnarney.
In a post on Facebook, Minister Moran congratulated Athlone Agri-Show chairman, PJ Glynn, his wife, Majella, and their daughter, Melissa, for making the event “such a fantastic success”.
Michael Flanagan said organisers had “a lot of enquiries” about incorporating a vintage section into the agri-show, which is one of the aspects the committee will consider for next year. “The work starts now for next year,” he said, adding that the favourable weather on Sunday last “contributed hugely” to the overall success of the 2025 event.