More than 60,000 people expected to one of the major agri summer events of the year, the Tullamore Show.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD will open Ireland’s premier show. After months of preparation competitors from all over Ireland are ready to do battle for a prize fund of €165k and the most prestigious prize in agriculture the AIB National Livestock Show Gold Medal, which is equivalent to the Olympic Gold Medal for Livestock, according to the show organisers.

“There are competitions for everything from bonny baby to best pedigree cattle in the country. This show is a unique event which is eagerly awaited by thousands of competitors and spectators throughout the country,” the organisers said in a statement to AgriLand.

In May Taoiseach Enda Kenny launched the Tullamore Show and AIB National Livestock Show. Chairman Rodney Cox is delighted to announce today that the Minister for Agriculture will officially open the Show on 11 August.

The show is located outside Tullamore, just off the N52, in the heart of Ireland with 20,000 free car spaces, and this year’s show promises to break the phenomenal records achieved in previous years.  There are 1,000 classes with a prize fund of €165,000 and 600 Trade & Machinery Stands.  As well as the headline events for Pedigree and Commercial Cattle and Sheep there is one of the finest horticulture and flower shows in Ireland, carriage driving with events for dogs, poultry, home industries, and a magnificent vintage show, inventions and may other events. There will be more than 250,000sq ft of marquees including shopping arcades and pavilions.

Other attractions will include celebrity chef Nevin Maguire and all-day entertainment headed by Conor Quinn of The Voice of Ireland with the White Chalk band,  Ruaile Buaile and Rahan Ceoltais among others.  Best Dressed Lady & Man competitions, Young Mr & Miss Offaly competitions and a Bonny Baby competition.

A competition for Sheep Shearing comes to the Tullamore Show for the first time, with competitions for Seniors & Juniors and both Blade & Machine Shearing, Ivan Scott, from Kilmacrennan in County Donegal is the holder of the World lamb shearing record where be at the show.

According to the organisers: “This is the biggest one day show in Ireland and the highlight of the Irish farming world. The AIB National Livestock Show will feature Gold Medal Championships for the breed champions.  The livestock breeders in Ireland and beyond regard a win of The Gold Medal at the Tullamore Show, as the most prestigious medal in Irish Agriculture.  An Irish and International team of judges decide the recipients for the National Titles. The term is often loosely used, but the Tullamore Show really is the show with something for everyone! The show is a special place for the business and farming community, visitors, children, young & old to gather and enjoy the country air and the very best of Irish culture.

An added attraction this year is a Guinness World Record attempt with the largest ever potato sack race being supervised by Sam’s Potatoes. Each year the Tullamore Show select a charity that have the opportunity to raise funds and awareness during the show and many charitable organizations have benefitted very well down through the years, This year Irish Autism Action have been chosen, outlining the fantastic support that the charity receives in the midlands each year.

Ensure you wear comfortable shoes, for even those less inclined to compete, they will not be idle for long on show day. There are restaurant and bar facilities, band stands to entertain the crowds, music performances, fashion shows and children’s’ amusements which have always proved popular.