A flavour of the schedule at Athlone Agri Show

Live Music

Enjoy live Country & Western Music with one of Ireland’s most popular entertainers, Declan Nerney, on stage from 2pm followed by the Cowboy Disco in the Beer Garden. There are dancing and jiving competitions all afternoon on the specially-erected and covered maple dance floor.

The Athlone Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Éireann will be staging a special display including an international multi-cultural festival of music. Don’t miss it.

New Kids Zone Indoor Entertainment Activities:

Check out the exciting indoor kids’ entertainment area new to the Athlone Agri-Show this year. This interactive play zone is packed with experiences and activities designed for children of all ages, making sure there’s plenty to keep the little ones entertained throughout the day.

Kids activities include Story Time with Athlone Library, Kids Yoga Class with Aikyam Yoga, Art Workshops for Kids presented by The Art Box and Women’s Circle, RINKA kids exercise class, Reynolds Irish Dancing Academy with family céili and kids céili, a Brazilian Jiujitsu demonstration and participation sessions. Activities start from 10am and running right though to 3pm when it will finish with the now famous Egg & Spoon race for children and adults.

Some of the other side shows will include a display of alpacas, pigmy goats and birds of prey. Rumbles prize-winning catering facilities will be available throughout the show-grounds offering all kinds of goodies.

Bar facilities:

Bar facilities in large marquee with big TV screen for all the matches and right beside the dance arena.

Horses:

In the equine section there are over 100 classes across seven rings, including Breeding Mare & Foal, Young Horses, In-Hand Connemara Ponies, Irish Draughts, Ridden Ponies, Ridden Connemara Ponies, Cobs, Family Pony classes, Working Hunter & Ridden Horses. The section will host 14 ISA All-Ireland qualifiers and 5 RDS qualifiers.

There will also be Show Jumping and Eventing competition and Intermediate Side Saddle, Ladies Side Saddle & Racehorse to Riding Horse events. The highlight is the Athlone Show Mare & Foal Championship, sponsored by Jim Derwin Equestrian, with a prize fund of €5,000 plus sashes, rosettes and rugs. With the section also including three Donkey classes, equine lovers will have a mighty day’s entertainment.

Cattle:

This year’s Cattle section is bigger and better with 41 classes incorporating most pedigree breeds of Angus, Belgian Blues, Charolais, Hereford, Limousin, Salers, Shorthorn, Simmental and a big selection of Commercial classes including the Kepak Beef Heifer Championship. There is also a Young Handlers class and a qualifier for the All-Ireland Young Stockperson

The highlight of the Cattle Section is the Champion of Champions, which is open to all Champions and Reserve Champions and the winner will receives the Vera Hynes Memorial Cup plus €300, with the Reserve Champion owner receiving €150 compliments of the Hynes family, Baylin, Athlone.

Sheep:

In excess of 1,000 sheep are expected to take part across over 100 classes catering for most breeds including six All Ireland finals for the Belgian Beltex, Irish Texel Sheep Society, Vendeen Sheep Society, Hampshire Downs, Charollais Sheep Society, Dutch Spotted Sheep Society as well as the Kepak Interbreed Championship.

Poultry:

Poultry fans will have 20 classes of small and large breeds plus two All-Ireland qualifiers. Also there will be a display of the different breeds of Poultry that are most common in Ireland. This is sponsored by Flancare Warehousing & Logistics Centre, Athlone.

Egg Classes:

The first 50 families visiting the poultry exhibition will receive a freshly laid duck and hen egg to bring home, compliments of the sponsor of the egg classes, Oliver Flanagan, Moydrum Castle Poultry Farm, Athlone. Another feature will be a display of eggs from the various breeds of poultry and waterfowl showing the different colour of eggs that each breed lays plus advice on preparing eggs for show-day.

Egg & Spoon Race:

Trophies will be available for the Father’s Day Egg & Spoon Championships with lovely surprises for the Children’s Egg & Spoon race which is always a big attraction

Big Bird:

Calling all children to have your photograph taken with the Big Bird outside the poultry marquee.

Cookery:

There are over 30 classes in the cookery section for both Junior and Seniors and it is one area of the show that is always well worth a visit and see what the experts produce.

Vegetables:

Back by public demand, there is a selection of vegetable classes kindly sponsored by Fernhill Garden Centre, Athlone.

Photography Display:

The Athlone Photography Club is organising a fabulous display

Super Dog Show:

The Super Dog Show is a huge attraction each year spread across two rings, with classes for both big dogs and small dogs, culminating with a Champion in each section. The Ellen Devery Perpetual Cup will be for the Champion Large Dog this year, a prize that is much sought after. Thanks to the Devery family, Athlone.

Food Village & Crafts:

Coordinator Martin Monaghan and staff invite you to visit the Food and Craft Village which continues to grow each year, where regional artisan suppliers will showcase their latest produce and the Craft people display their wares. This area is always thronged with people checking out and tasting what is new to the market.

Trade Stands:

This year a wonderful selection of new innovators and old reliables have come together to display their wares to the showgoing public and hopefully there will be something in the mix to arouse your interest.

Office of Public Works (OPW):

The OPW’s Biodiversity Strategy sets out the organisation’s intention to preserve, promote and enhance biodiversity across its operations. It identifies strategic actions to help to deliver Government policy through contribution to the delivery of the National Biodiversity Action Plan. The National Parks and Wildlife Service manages the State's nature conservation responsibilities.

As well as managing the national parks the activities of the NPWS include the designation and protection of National Heritage Areas, Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas.

The OPW and NPWS are putting on a special display, and the committee has thanked local Minister Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran for organising this exhibition.

Children’s Amusements:

All the fun of the fair! There is something for everyone, from water slides, bouncy castles, face painting, Guess My Weight, buggy rides, Burst My Balloon, hopscotch, hide & seek and much, much, more.

Order of Malta:

The Order of Malta will be on duty from early morning and hopefully they will have a peaceful day and causality free.

The agri-show is a community effort, organized and run by volunteers from the community and for the community.

Visit www.athloneshow.ie