The 11th Annual Claregalway Agricultural Show took place in Duffy’s Claregalway Equestrian Centre on Sunday 19th August with the exception of Cattle, Sheep and Goat classes this year because of the Foot & Mouth Disease.
The Show provided an outlet for everyone in the community to display high quality animals, farm produce, home-baking and arts and crafts.
Entries in the Pony & Horse Classes were up on last year with exhibits of the usual high standard. These included entries from all over the country as well as a good local turn out. The Dog Show attracted huge entries with local man Tom McCann from Lakeview being the owner of the Reserve Champion Gun Dog. Another first prize winner in the dog section was owned by Maura Doyle from Cahergowan.
There was great competition also in the Indoor Section with prizes going to Catherine Kirrane, Cregboy for Photography and Bernadette Long for her delicious home-baking.. Carol McKiernan, only 12 years old, took first prize in the adult Cheesecake class. There was a great display of local talent in the Art Section, with prizes going to Mary Finnerty, Margaret Lenihan and Michelle Kirrane to name but a few. Selection and colour in the flower classes was second to none, despite the inclement weather leading up to the show. Other winners were Patsy Walsh in the Jam Section and keeping it in the family, her grand-daughter Alice Shaughnessy won several prizes in the Junior Section.
Other attractions on the day included the Bonny Baby competition and Glamorous Granny. Local winners in these sections were Chloe Davin in the Bonny Baby Class and Noreen Murphy won the Glamorous Granny.
Duffy’s Claregalway Equestrian Centre once again proved to be an excellent venue for the show with ample parking in nearby Peter Tonery’s field.
The Show Queen, Miss Mary Lenihan from Cloon, Claregalway looked radiant adorned with her sash and tiara and she presided over the presentation of the prizes throughout the day.
There was great competition in the Home-baking and Arts and Crafts. Judges were impressed by the high standard of the show, the hospitality they received, and they congratulated the committee on the organisation of the show.
Chairman Val Noone would like to thank everybody who assisted in any way with the organisation and running of the show and special thanks to all who turned up on Saturday and Monday to help out. He would like to thank the exhibitors and the show’s many sponsors, without whose support there would be no show. After much debate and discussion the committee decided some months beforehand that no entries would be accepted on the day this year. This worked very well and will be the procedure for future shows. The committee was pleased with the overall turnout.
