Competition entries open for Tullamore Show
7th July 2017
TULLAMORE Show & AIB National Livestock Show, now in its 26th year, has revealed that competition classes are now open for entries.
The show has brought a modern country lifestyle showcase, to the lush grounds of the Butterfield Estate on the outskirts of the Blueball, for the 8th year in a row, with international acclaim.
The Show brings together the highest quality animals, cookery, fashion, businesses, home and leisure, ingenuity, trade, rare breeds and new experiences for all the family, so add the date, Sunday 13th August 2017, set your GPS, and follow the signs to the Tullamore Show, opening its gates in just over 5 weeks’ time.
With more than 1,000 competition classes, and over 60,000 people expected at the annual Tullamore Show & AIB National Livestock Show on Sunday 13th August 2017, the show committee are delighted and excited that the number of entries in the competitions are rising each year, increasing the competition, and helping to keep the Tullamore Show at the top of the list of Irish Shows. From best dressed, to best bullock, best young horse to the champion alpaca, best flower arrangement, to best craft Item from recycled materials and 1,000 more to name, the show is looking for the skills, creativity, talents and inventiveness to compete here this year. Classes span 14 categories, and the prize fund has totalled up to a cool €175,000 this year in cash, as well as Gold Medals, rosettes, sashes and medallions and more to be brought home by the lucky winners.
Postal entries are closing this Friday 7th July but online entries are being accepted until July 19th. There is a ticket discount system for competitors. Visit www.tullamoreshow.com for the full class listing and details on how to enter.
As a special incentive to get your entries in early, there is an Early Bird Competition for anyone who complete their entries online before next Friday, 14th July. The winner will be picked at random, and win a €100 cash prize.
The Odlums All Ireland Championship and Odlums Youth All Ireland Home Baking Championship takes place in the Cookery Pavilion, under the same roof with the best baked breads and pastry’s, the popular Novelty Sugarcrafts, and the selection of Afternoon tea class to name a few. Get your ovens ready for the bake off competitions of the year.
Enter the fashion competitions on the day for Best Dressed Lady, Best Hat Competition or Best Dressed Man before 19th July to be listed in the catalogue on show day. Our Glamorous Grannies, Bonny Babies and Young Mr. or Miss. Offaly’s are all called upon to take to the stage on show day, to share stories of their special place in our lives and enjoy the crowds that are there to support their wonderful energy. This category will close with the Traditional Farmer class, a nod to more traditional ways of farming and lifestyle, and definitely one to watch.
The new class this year for the Horses category is Class 489; Tullamore Show Connemara Brood Mare Premium. No entries accepted on Show Day with exception of Family Pony & Miniature Jumping, so enter now to be in with the chance to take the title. The Working Hunter section is always very well supported, as well as AIRC Members Ridden Class.
Horticulture & Farm Produce section has classes for Fruit & Vegetable, Farm Produce, Potatoes, Turf, Cut Flowers, Dahlias, Novice Dahlia Section, Pot Plants, Floral Art and Honey. Crafts and Needlework have 47 classes open, for all ages, while the Arts and Photography category offers competitions in 15 classes, with a range of diverse themes to choose from.
The Final of Macra na Feirme All-Ireland Farm Skills Competition takes place here in Tullamore. Six clubs from around the country take part in the final.
The Alpacas are back. Excited competitors are asked to make their way to www.tullamoreshow.com to enter in some of the 35 classes, which includes 3 championship classes, which are open for this year’s alpaca section.
Visitors to the Show will enjoy live music and entertainment from 10am, with Declan Nerney and the Garda Band headlining the impressive line-up of folk, country, modern pop, and spoken word performers throughout the day.
The final of the Irish Pig Society All Ireland Championship is to be held. Pig Agility displays are taking place throughout the day also.
One of the other tasty attractions at this year’s Tullamore Show will be the Bord Bia cookery demonstrations with Celebrity Chef Neven Maguire. Neven will present tasty dishes and Bord Bia recipes that all the family will enjoy, including quality assured beef and lamb dishes.
The Food Village offers you a mouth-watering selection of the best of beef and hot and cold food, to help you keep up the energy to enjoy the day. Picnic benches are in the village and there are seating points throughout the site.
A children’s village is fully equipped to keep your young ones entertained for hours.
Workshops and demos are planned throughout the day, with the latest tips and tricks in gardening, cooking, sheep shearing and more to be confirmed.
People are asked to leave their car at home and take advantage of the free shuttle bus that goes from O’Connor Square, servicing the Train station, from 9am until 5pm on Show Day, to and from the Showgrounds.
The show’s first lady chairperson, Brenda Kiernan, wishes everyone “the best of luck with their entries and hope that you all reach new highs this year”. Brenda began her Chairperson term this year, following in the footsteps of a great performance by Rodney Cox, who held the reigns exceptionally for 4 years. We wish Brenda the best of luck with her term.
Start marking off the days to the close of entries, send yours into the Show and get ready for some of the year’s most exciting competitions in the country. Entering has never been easier.
For more information, go to www.tullamoreshow.com, connect on Facebook or Twitter, or call 057 9352141 to find out more about the competitions at the Tullamore Show & AIB National Livestock Show 2017.