Future two-day Tullamore Show on the cards
14th July 2017
Ger Scully
TULLAMORE Show will be extended to a two day event in the near future but no timeframe has yet been decided on.
The matter is being reviewed by the show executive following feedback from exhibitors, spectators and the general public, newly elected show chairperson, Brenda Kiernan revealed.
"In the future we are planning on extending it to a two-day event, maybe not the whole show as we are aware that the competitors are our core element," Ms Kiernan told the Tribune this week.
The Tullamore Show and AIB National Livestock Show chief cautioned: "Spreading those [competitions] over two days might change the whole character of the show."
Ms Kiernan said the "feeling from the general public, exhibitors and spectators was that a lot of work was going on to set up just a one day event."
In a wide-ranging interview in this week's Tribune, she said the two-day issue is a topic of conversation each year at show executive level and is being constantly reviewed.
This year's show will definitely be a one-day event as usual and preparations are now being finalised for Sunday, August 13 next.
Forever thriving on its bigger and better label, Ms Kiernan stressed there is "always room for expansion".
'We are always adding new attractions to the programme - two years ago we added the talks, tips and hints marquee and it proved a massive success so much so that we had to add a second marquee the following year. Exhibitors are always looking for ideas on how to win those coveted prizes."
Ms Kiernan stressed: "I'm privileged to be part of a great team and the support from all of the executive is phenomenal."
She added: " My ambition is to continue to develop the programme for the show that was started 26 years ago."
She and her team have secured a number of firsts for the 2017 show, including the Charolais All-Ireland Championships, the Angus Beef All-Ireland Calf Championships, the Salers Calf All-Ireland which join the Hereford, Simmental and Limousin All-Irelands that have previously being staged at the Butterfield Estate.
In the Angus All-Ireland six separate classes boast a prize fund of €1,000 each.
" We're now getting All-Irelands in all areas,' outlined Ms Kiernan.
See full interview in Tribune People profile on page 15.