The grounds of Bellurgan Park are beginning to shape up for the 2014 Co. Louth Agricultural Show this Sunday June 15th as all equipment necessary to run the Show appears on site. The mission statement of the Co. Louth Agricultural Show is “to be a Shop Window for what is produced locally, defining the process from farm to fork, highlighting agricultural practice and adherence to quality production”. Entries for the different classes have now closed. The members of Dundalk Show Society Ltd are now working hard to ensure that alongside the various classes there will be plenty of attractions to suit and interest all ages.
There will be many classes for Cattle, Sheep, Horses and Ponies, Alpacas, Poultry, Dogs, Arts, Crafts, Horticulture, Home Industries, Photography, Baking and Flower Arranging. There are also classes for Children and those with Special Needs. Best Dressed and Bonny Baby competitions are also a major feature at the Show and demand for Trade Stand space is big this year. The Show will also host Qualifiers for a number of classes in the Home Industries, Poultry, Dogs, Cattle and Horses and Ponies classes for All Ireland Finals at various Agricultural Shows nationwide. The Co. Louth Agricultural Show continues to work with the Newry Agricultural Show Society under a Cross Border Initiative which has proved very beneficial in promoting both shows through an Intershows Competition. Again this year the Co. Louth Agricultural Show will hold the first part of the Intershows Competition and the finals will be held at Newry Show on Saturday June 28th at Derrymore House, Bessbrook.
Many different attractions will be held at the Show. They include Dog Agility Demonstrations, Russian Cossacks, Clay Pigeon Shooting, Tug O War, Sheep Shearing, Sheep Dog Trials, Sheep and Pig Racing, Sheaf Tossing and displays by the Oriel Hunt. Children and teenagers will have plenty of attractions to enjoy. For children there will be a Pet’s Corner, Petting Farm and a Sandpit. For teenagers, there will be a Climbing Wall from the Carlingford Adventure Centre and a Tree Climbing competition. There will also be a major focus on entertainment with Dancing Troupes, Woods Dynamic Dancing, Gravity Dancing, Live Music from the Ardee Concert Band, Eugene Ginty(Tenor) and Booze Bros and also live broadcasting from Dundalk FM. Not forgetting that Sunday June 15th is Father’s Day, all the Fathers attending will be encouraged to take part in some sporting events such as Egg and Spoon, Sack and Running races.
In keeping with tradition, the Co. Louth Agricultural Show supports a nominated charity. This year we are supporting the Maria Goretti Foundation Centre for Children with Disabilities based in Lordship.
To get to Bellurgan Park, take the R173 Greenore/Carlingford Road, (Exit 18 off M1)To facilitate the smooth entry and exit of traffic to the show grounds and to avoid any inconvenience to local residents, a traffic management plan for the day of the Show will be operation. All traffic will enter the Show grounds from the Deerpark Road (L3085)while the main entrance to Bellurgan Park will be reserved for emergency vehicles only. Please obey the stewards on duty.
All Home Industry exhibits must be brought to Bellurgan Park on Saturday June 14th between 9am and 12 noon for judging while all other judging will on the day of the Show. If you have any queries in relation to the Show, please do not hesitate to contact Dundalk Show Society Ltd at 087-9594247, or the Show Office based in the Dundalk Chamber of Commerce at 042-9354942. Alternatively, check out www.co.louthagriculturalshow.com
