Ballinasloe Horse and Agricultural Show Ltd are delighted to announce that their 179th agricultural show will be held in Ballinasloe showground on Sunday 23 September 2018 at 11am.

There will be a number of equestrian classes, including in hand classes for young horses, riding horses, registered Connemara’s, mares and foals and working hunter ponies. There will also be a number of championships.

There are four All Irelands to be won – Connemara three-year-old filly and mare of the future, the Irish Draft colt foal championship final, the Irish Draught filly foal championship and the champion donkey final.

Cattle will be shown in a newly-constructed area, classes include commercial heifers and commercial bullocks. Sheep classes will include best pair of ewe hogget’s and stores lambs. There will be a young handler class in both the cattle and sheep sections.

There are an array of classes within the vegetable growing competition, including a special pumpkin class for school children.

The final event of the day is the return of the Ballinasloe Show Donkey Derby. Free parking is available adjacent to Ballinasloe showground on the fairgreen and children’s entertainment is in the grounds.

Chair John Harney thanked everyone who put in the hours to make the show possible. The showground now run four shows a year and is open for schooling 300 days a year. Harney said: “Never in my wildest dreams did I think that in my time the showground would be so busy and such an integral part of the farming and horse industries in the west and midlands.”

Further information and entry forms can be got from www.ballinasloeshow.com or John Harney at 087-2105032, or Faye O’Connor at 085-8005577.