Mullingar Agricultural Show could move to two-day event

Kate Pendred

After a bumper Mullingar Agricultural Show last Sunday, organisers are to consider making it a two-day event.

This year, glorious sunshine and an attractive new layout made for a bigger and better show than ever, and attendance broke all records. For the first time, the car park was full and an over-flow car park quickly filled up too.

There were extra trade stands and stalls, and entries were up across the livestock classes. The new layout maximised the extensive showgrounds and made everything more accessible.

Chris Dolan, chairman of the organising committee, said: “I am absolutely delighted with the new layout – it worked.

“We have such a magnificent showgrounds and we weren’t utilising it enough – we wanted to spread it out.”

Chris said the attendance was “unbelievable”. He admitted that the show had been “struggling a bit in recent years, had lost its edge a bit as a show and we had to get the interest back”.

He had been approached by a number of people on the day “giving out that it was not a two-day event”.

“We are going to be having a chat about making it a two-day event, it will definitely be on the table,” he said.

He was impressed by the day but also by the fact that “last week we had over 200 people out here helping”. “I never saw such a crowd – it was like show day and the craic that was had and the work that was done over two evenings was incredible.”

While it is an agricultural show and there was huge interest in the equestrian events and livestock classes, there is much more to it than just farming.

There were producers from all over the country selling their wares. There were woodturners, beekeepers, all sorts of crafts including willow baskets, handmade jewellery and candles, as well as food stalls, even a portrait painter, amusements for the children, vintage cars and more.

The sheep shearing and dog show always attract large crowds of competitors and spectators, and this year was bigger than ever.

The show was officially opened by Foster and Allen, along with Chris Dolan. “They are celebrating 50 years in business, and we are celebrating 50 years since we bought the showgrounds,” Chris explained.

Chris’s father, 94-year-old Joe Dolan, who was one of those involved in the purchase of the showgrounds, was also in attendance.

Mullingar Town Band performed and there was an Irish dancing display, all combining to add to the festive feel. Gerry Guthrie and his band, as well as others, entertained the crowds throughout the day, enticing many to the dance floor.

Margaret Carton has been involved with the show since 1978. “I never saw as many families at it – it’s lovely to see,” she said. She observed that there is now a marked difference in the amount of card payments compared to cash payments at the gate, “which is great”.

One of the gate attendants who arrived in the office with the cash takings for the day observed that he had not seen “a child with a phone all day, nor a child crying in the play area – they are in their element”.

A new feature of the show this year was a giant marquee in the centre of the yard, an area that had previously been unused. In it, there were talks on beekeeping and growing edible flowers and herbs, a cookery demonstration and more. When the Westmeath Examiner dropped in, Vinog Leavy from Coralstown was giving a talk on home brewing and Pauline Hogan from Lynn was demonstrating how to weave a willow basket.

“Anyone can make a breadbasket in their first class,” Pauline promised. She runs a range of workshops to suit all levels at her craft co-op in Lynn.

Outside, Michael McQuaid from Castleblaney had an amazing display of sculptures made from teak. He has been in business since he retired in 2010 and now employs seven staff.

Nearby, Uisneach Veterinary were attracting large numbers all day with their free animal health checks, free raffles for hampers and Uisneach Veterinary vouchers, and even free dog poop bags in pretty bone-shaped holders.

Indoors, there was the usual array of home produced fruit and veg, home baking, arts and crafts. This year’s cup and trophy winners included Ethel Lloyd, Stephanie Clarke, Eamonn McCormack, John Michael Lennon, Margaret McCormack, Andrew Reilly, Michelle Keegan, Oliver Flanagan, Patrick Casey, Ian Manning, Ber Ennis and Marie Egan. Chris Dolan thanked all who attended, exhibited and helped. He also thanked the sponsors – “without them we would not be able to do it”.

And so now the clean-up before work starts on next year’s show.