Claiming to be the oldest agricultural show in Ireland; Iverk Show in Piltown, Co Kilkenny was first run in 1826. The key to its survival, and that of those that have come after it, was beautifully spelled out in the first Irish Shows Association Annual Guide Book published 154 years later in 1980: “Shows are nourished by the sweet substance of voluntary cooperation. They only die when their worth is no longer appreciated.”

To assess the present strength of these events I spoke with Michael Hughes, who for the past 12 years has been national secretary of the Irish Shows Association (ISA). That organisation was founded in 1946 by the Royal Dublin Society’s (RDS) Judge William Wylie to help unify judging in show events. It remained under the RDS until 1975 when it then struck out on its own.

However, I can remember the 1979 AGM of the group when it was severely criticised for just being a ‘talking shop’ that did nothing for its member shows. The criticism was taken seriously and over the next few years, under Chairmanships of Ted Sheehan of Cork and Kilkenny’s Leslie Rothwell, matters changed dramatically.

DRAMATIC CHANGE

The guide book was launched, a national insurance policy was negotiated and in 1982 the first All-Ireland Championship was sponsored by Goresbridge Sales.

According to Michael Hughes, the number of All-Irelands organised by the ISA now stands at 54 for all sections of the agricultural show, from horses to cattle, sheep and home industries.

Asked how the number of shows have stood up he said: “In this current season we lost five but gained three new ones to leave the total at 130.”

Some have gone and others replaced them but interestingly enough, there is just about the same number that was listed in the very first guide book back in 1980. Michael notes: “Shows that innovate and diversify are the ones doing best.” In other words, events that are part festival, part fair, part ploughing championship, part horse show and a good family day out.

He emphasises that their greatest need at the moment is the infusion of what he calls “new blood”. “While we can always get a good number of young volunteers on show day, we are not getting them to fill the leadership roles on committees, chairmanships and secretaries.” He also hopes that new volunteers will be given an input.

On the positive side of things Michael indicates that insurance premiums are dropping and that foal classes and children’s pony events are thriving. “Foals are selling at shows and in our championships and that is good news.”