It’s my pleasure and honour to lead Ireland’s Premier Show for the second year, on Sunday 9 August. This is a very special year, as we celebrate our 35th anniversary, and we are delighted with how it has expanded over the years to become the biggest one-day show in Ireland.

The Tullamore Show Focus is very important in the lead-up to our event, advising people of all that will take place on the day, from livestock and indoor judging timetables to the all-important traffic plan from the gardaí.

At this stage, the site is a hive of activity, with tracking laid, the tented village almost complete and most of the enormous number of trade stands on site.

I would particularly like to acknowledge and thank FBD, our title sponsors, for their continued support, and our many other sponsors. We are indebted to our site owners, Anne Marie Butterfield and Stephen McQuade, for the wonderful site and facilities.

Without the cooperation of the many landowners, car park owners, local residents, the site layout team, their helpers and the hundreds of volunteers, we certainly would not be able to stage our wonderful event.

Show day is fast approaching, so come along and enjoy a great family day out, with something for everyone. Please follow the traffic plans and forget about satnavs for your journey as you approach Tullamore.

Safe travelling and enjoy your day.

On Sunday 9 August, rural Ireland and the rest of the country, whose roots are in the land, will gather for the great Tullamore Show and FBD National Livestock Show.

The show witnesses the best stock and producers in Ireland and, indeed, the world. All this is contained in the heart of rural Ireland in Co Offaly.

It is also an occasion to celebrate the high point of an Irish summer, holidays, games and other pursuits before we return to the routine of work, school and everyday living.

People often wonder why such a gigantic event is not held over two or more days.

The reason, I believe, is that bringing all our political leaders and parties, all our national organisations and the various organs of the media to one place on the one day is not only a unique opportunity for them, but also a chance for the rest of us to meet and communicate with them.

Notables, like Larry Goodman, Michael O’Leary and others, who, despite being captains of industry, are farmers at heart and like to participate in Ireland’s premier show.

We also love to welcome the legendary Anne May McHugh from our sister organisation the National Ploughing Association. Apart from all that, there is country dancing and even a jiving competition, a fashion show, art, mouth-watering cakes, buns and tarts, a flower show and a wonderful display of vegetables and competitions to be enjoyed.

Favourites with many are the horse and dog shows, with working and obedience tests for many breeds. The enormous tractors and machinery exhibits are of interest to many and occasions to do business.

Forestry and sustainability are topical just now and are adequately displayed.

Taking pride of place will be the best breeds of cattle, sheep, pigs and horses, all vying for the coveted gold medals.

The industrial village is a wonderland where you can get anything from a hurl to a heart check, or perhaps you might just like to sit and observe the diversity of rural life and its contribution to our national welfare.

You can also experience the resourcefulness of farm folk who continue to deal with the vicissitudes of weather, EU regulations, uncertainties of prices and income.

The near miracle that takes place each year to transform green fields into a city of over 60,000 people and 700 trade stands is a tribute to the wonderful officers, committee, volunteers, workers and neighbours, who all work for love of place and way of life – not forgetting those who have gone before.

Tullamore Show revolves around our secretary Chelsey Cox McDonald, who has her finger on the pulse on all activities connected with the show at all times – whether in the office or even driving a tractor around the site.

We are also grateful to our most generous sponsors.

FBD Insurance has been proud to support the Tullamore Show since 1991 and we are delighted to continue as sponsors of the FBD National Livestock Show, a role we have held since 2018.

Over the past 35 years, the show has grown from strength to strength and has become one of the most important and much-loved events in Ireland’s agricultural calendar, showcasing the very best of Irish farming, innovation and community spirit.

I would like to sincerely thank the Tullamore Show committee, along with all the volunteers, stakeholders and supporters who work so hard to make this event such a success each year.

A tremendous amount of effort takes place behind the scenes, and it is thanks to that dedication and commitment that the show continues to thrive.

There is huge depth and breadth to the exhibitors on show and I have no doubt that visitors to the event this year will find great value from the sheer variety on offer.

The FBD National Livestock Show has long provided a platform for showcasing the finest livestock, and this year promises to be no different.

We are also very proud to support the ‘FBD Speakers’ corner in the sustainable livestock village, where practical advice and sustainable actions for farms will be shared throughout the day.

As Ireland’s leading farm insurer, with 34 branches nationwide, FBD is proud to sit at the heart of hundreds of communities across the country.

Our core promise is simple: Support. It’s what we do. Our people care deeply about where they’re from and the communities around them and we see the Tullamore Show and our continued support of it as a cornerstone of that promise.

Please do drop by the FBD stand to say hello to our team. You’ll find us at stand L99 in the livestock area. We would be delighted to meet you and talk to you about any insurance requirements you may have.

I wish you, your family and all attending a wonderful and safe day at the show.

As preparations gather pace for this year’s Tullamore Show and FBD National Livestock Show, it is impossible for me not to reflect on what this remarkable event has meant to me over the past three decades.

Like so many people involved in agricultural shows, my journey didn’t begin in an office or on a committee. It began as a volunteer steward. From those early days, I discovered that a successful show is built on teamwork, commitment and an army of volunteers who willingly give their time to create something special for their communities.

Over almost 30 years, I was privileged to undertake many different roles within Tullamore Show, learning every aspect of what is involved in organising Ireland’s premier one-day agricultural event. Eventually, I became operations manager – a role that gave me a deep appreciation of the planning, logistics and dedication required to stage an event of this scale. Every show day may appear effortless to visitors, but behind the scenes thousands of hours of work have already been completed long before the gates open.

Although I now have the honour of serving as president of the Irish Shows Association, Tullamore Show will always hold a special place in my heart. It is where I learned the value of volunteering, the importance of good leadership and the satisfaction that comes from working together to deliver an event that showcases the very best of Irish agriculture.

As president, I have spent the summer visiting agricultural shows across the 32 counties, meeting committees, exhibitors, competitors and volunteers. Every show has its own unique identity, but they all share the same commitment to promoting farming, supporting rural communities and providing an enjoyable day out for families.

Agricultural shows continue to play an essential role in rural Ireland. They celebrate our livestock, our food, our craftsmanship, our innovation and, most importantly, our people. They also provide an opportunity for those with little connection to farming to better understand the industry that produces the food on all our tables.

I wish John and Chelsey and the dedicated committee, together with every volunteer involved in Tullamore Show, every success for this year’s event. I have no doubt they will once again deliver an outstanding showcase of Irish agriculture and rural life.

I encourage everyone to come along, support the exhibitors, enjoy the competitions and experience for themselves why agricultural shows continue to be one of the greatest celebrations of community spirit anywhere in Ireland.