Enterprise town event added this year
The 40th Elphin Agricultural Show and Festival was launched in An Bóthar Rua last Thursday, with a large crowd in attendance.
There will be a prize fund of €40,000 on offer at this year’s Show, which takes place on Saturday, September 2nd in Elphin Mart premises and fields.
Joining the committee at the event were Deputy Eugene Murphy, Senator Maura Hopkins, Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council Orla Leyden and a number of local representatives as well as various sponsors and members representing cattle societies.
Long-standing chairman of Elphin Show, Cyril McDermott, outlined the extensive programme of events which will feature the Bank of Ireland Elphin Enterprise Town event as well as the annual ticket draw with the top prize of a weanling heifer or €500 in cash.
“As Chairman of Elphin Show it is my pleasant duty to welcome you all here on behalf of myself and the show committee to the launch of our 40th Annual Elphin Agicultural Show.
“It’s a landmark year and we asked ourselves what we could do to make this year’s event stand out. We are delighted that the Bank of Ireland showed an interest in this event and thank them for the support,” he said.
There will be a number of All-Ireland titles up for grabs on the day. Highlights include the 2017 All-Ireland Pedigree Charolais Baby Calf Championship (€1,500), All-Ireland Baby Beef Heifer (€2,500) All-Ireland Commercial Breeding Heifer unhaltered (€1,500), North West Limousin Club Calf Final and various All-Ireland Treacle Bread, Jam, Jack Russell and Duck or Drake competitions.
As well as a host of classes in cattle, horses, sheep, ponies, donkeys, poultry and goats, there will also be numerous classes for pets, cats and dogs, photography, flowers and farm produce.
There will be a number of more light-hearted competitions also, including Bonny Baby, Little Miss, Little Master, Most Glamorous Granny, Most Appropriately Dressed Lady and Best Dressed Gentleman.
This is very much a family event and there will be entertainment for all ages including bouncy castles on the day.
Indeed, the fun will continue throughout the weekend with a poetry competition taking place in The Tower Inn on Sunday, September 3rd and a darts exhibition with the ‘Crafty Cockney’ himself, Eric Bristow on the same day at An Bóthar Rua at 7 pm.
Guest speakers at last Thursday’s launch, including Deputy Eugene Murphy, Cathaoirleach Orla Leyden, Senator Maura Hopkins, Jim Callery and the chairpersons of the various cattle societies paid tribute to the Show’s organisers while emphasising the importance of the Show to Elphin and surrounding areas.
Elphin Mart Manager, Gerry Connellan, praised the work of the committee and said the September 2nd event provided “huge publicity” for Elphin.
