Tinahely – August bank holiday Monday

Tinahely Show is the place to be on August bank holiday Monday. Entertainment includes live bands, sheaf tossing, vintage display, pony games, dances, local ceoltas, dog agility and show, pets corner, poultry, children’s corner, show queen, and a carnival.

Exhibitions range from farm foods, crafts, business arcade, quilt marque, outdoor trade arena and a food court. Show classes incorporate horses, cattle, sheep, crafts, flowers and garden, baking, art and a special junior section.

Farm machinery and trade stands spaces are available and children and parking are free. Enquiries to 0402-34922; email: tinahelyshow@gmail.com or visit www.tinahelyshow.ie.

Iverk – 23 August

Attracting 20,000 visitors annually, the Iverk Show is one of the largest agricultural and family events in the country. Now in its 188th year, it will be staged on 23 August in Piltown, Co Kilkenny.

Following its success last year, the ABP/Aldi Irish Angus Bull Calf Championships will carry a major prize fund of €20,000 for 2014. Iverk also stages a number of All-Ireland finals for cattle and horses and a poultry marquee catering for over 350 birds.

In addition, there will be over 200 trade stands including vintage as well as a food and small industry marquee. New for 2014 will be carriage driving, falconry and a special health promotion marquee.

Last year’s show was awarded the REHAB Kilkenny People of the Year award for Rural Development. Parking is free with a special parking area for the disabled and coaches. Visit www.iverkshow.ie

Flavours of Fingal – 28-29 June

Now in its third year, the Flavours of Fingal County Show will be staged in Newbridge House, Donabate, Co Dublin, on the 28-29 June 2014 (just off the M1). Attracting 20,000 visitors annually, the event incorporates a farm, food and family fun event that features a range of livestock, sheep, equestrian and poultry classes. Information can be downloaded from www.flavoursoffingal.ie or by contacting Peter Counihan on 087 6774027. A total prize fund of €20,000 is available.

Strokestown – 13-14 September

Strokestown holds its 148th annual show on Saturday and Sunday 13-14 September 2014 on the grounds of Strokestown Park House, which is home to the National Famine Museum.

Saturday’s show is primarily for cattle and sheep classes along with farm and garden exhibits, cookery and handcrafts. The cattle section is renowned for the quality of its exhibits in both commercial and pedigree classes. Due to the timing of the show, many national finals are hosted by the breed societies including Irish Angus Cattle Society, Belgian Blue, Hereford, Limousin, Shorthorn and Simmental Societies. Also held are the Greenvale Animal Feeds All-Ireland Beef Heifer and the Nutrias Animal Feed All-Ireland Beef Bullock Championships.

Included in the commercial section are the All-Ireland male and female calf classes. Sunday’s events include horse and pony classes together with poultry and dog show. The main horse event will be The Irish Draft Broodmare All-Ireland Championship.

County Louth Agricultural Show – 15 June

Schedules for the 2014 Co Louth Agricultural Show are now available. This year’s show takes place on Sunday 15 June in Bellurgan Park. Entries for all classes are now being sought and the closing date is 7 June. Events include classes for children, home baking and art, flowers, woodwork and photography. To add to these is a horticultural, poultry, livestock, horses and dogs section. Schedules are available at info@thedundalkshow.com or visit www.co.louthagriculturalshow.com

Clonakilty – 8 June

The 99th annual Clonakilty Agricultural show takes place in the Show Grounds, Clonakilty, on Sunday 8 June. This year’s line-up includes 77 horse classes including the Performance Ridden Irish Draught Class, the Gain Foal All Ireland Championship, the West Cork Breeders All-Ireland Championship and the much sought after RDS Breeders Championship. The 76 cattle classes will incorporate the Dubliner Cheese All-Ireland Heifer-in-Milk sponsored by Carbery. New to the 2014 schedule are two ALDI qualifiers for calves born between 1 September and 31 December 2013 and for those born between 1 January and 30 April 2014.

Visit www.clonakiltyagrishow.com or contact Donal McCarthy at 087-6409326 or by email donalmacc@eircom.net.

Sommet de l’Elevage – 1 to 3 October

In 2014, this leading European forum for livestock, the French-based Sommet de l’Elevage will host national show competitions for the Aubrac and Simmental cattle breeds as well as the Charollais and Rava sheep breeds. Every year, the SOMMET welcomes its international visitors, offering them free entry to the show and meetings with exhibitors. This year’s event will feature up to 2,000 elite cattle that will participate in an extensive programme of show classes. There will also be an auction following the show.

2014 will line up 2 000 elite animals and a rich programme of livestock showings and auctions. Visitors will also have the opportunity to visit farms and agro-industry technical facilities.

Visit www.sommet-elevage.fr or contact the Dublin-based representative, Charlotte Jehanno at 01-442 9093 or charlotte@aboutfrance.ie