Organisers hatch super Charleville Show for this weekend

CHARLEVILLE Show started in 1979 and despite the already jam-packed schedule - which does include prizes for the best preserves - the organisers are always coming up with something new.

And this year's event - on this Saturday and Sunday, June 24 and 25, is no different.

Billy Biggane, chairman of the show, proudly announces that there will be a new farm advisory clinic on Saturday from 10am to 4pm, and a health and wellbeing information clinic on Sunday from noon to 5pm.

“Both will be major attractions and relevant in the times we live in,” said Mr Biggane, who has been involved in the show since it started and has a great love for the event. He is very proud to have three of his children join the show committee this year, Thomas, Bridget and Katey.

It is in the breeding as Mr Biggane's late father William Biggane was chairman of the show from 1985 to 1988 and Mr Biggane was previous chairman from 1993 to 1999 and is delighted to be back as chair.

He hopes to see new and returning families and all age groups this year.

“Do come to visit our show and see for yourself what is on display, the pony club games and mounted games will have you all cheering and laughing at the thrills and spills.

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“I look forward to meeting and welcoming each and everyone this weekend at the showgrounds on the N20 south of the town of Charleville.

“It is a real family day out with something to interest every member of the family,” said Mr Biggane.

Visitors can expect the very best of cattle in the dairy and beef sections on Saturday, top-quality sheep on Sunday, show jumping, horse and pony classes, arts, crafts and needlework, adult baking and the aforementioned preserves, secondary school baking competition, old time crafts, baby show, dog show, pets corner, decorative and horticulture, live music from Dermot Lyons and John McNicholl, art competitions, and trade stands to beat the band.

To accommodate all the visitors the organising committee have secured extra car parking adjacent to the show grounds and are very grateful to the local landowners for the use of their fields for parking and to the local clubs who help out with stewarding on both days.

When Charleville Show was established in 1979 the cost of running it was £22,000. To show how it has grown over the last four decades last year the show cost in excess of €250,000 to stage.

“Without the generous support of our sponsors, especially our major sponsors Kerry Group, it would not be possible for us to run our show at such high standards,” said Mr Biggane.

He also highlights the Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue, and Minister Heather Humphries for their major financial support to Charleville Show and acknowledges the great work put in by all shows on a voluntary basis for many years.

See next week's Limerick Leader for full coverage