The Oldcastle Agriculture Show is set to return for the 84th time next month with a day full of events and activities for all ages.

The show will take place on Sunday, July 20, in Gilson Park, Oldcastle, Co. Meath, with organisers saying it is set to be their biggest show yet.

There will be over 400 competition classes with prize money on offer, as well as live entertainment and family-friendly attractions throughout the day.

There will also be a new apple-tart-eating competition and, with a first prize of €1,000, it is getting a lot of enquires.

Ahead of the show, Agriland caught up with Linda Smith, who has been involved in the Oldcastle Agricultural Show for 16 years and secretary of the show for 14 of those.

Smith said entries are coming in 'fast and furious' for the livestock competitions, adding that she could not believe how far people are willing to travel to attend the show, coming from as far as counties Donegal and Cork.

Regarding cattle, exhibitors can compete in classes for commercial cattle as well as pedigree Limousin, Charolais, Hereford, Aberdeen Angus, and Belgian Blue, while the popular Young Stockperson classes will also return.

As for sheep, purebred classes include Dutch Spotted, Blue Texel, Suffolk, and Charollais. There will also be sheep shearing competitions for junior, intermediate and senior classes.

Smith praised the involvement of young participants in the underage competition classes, especially the turnout for sheep classes.

The popular poultry show is set to return, with Smith saying that the show has got so big, they ran out of cages last year. They had to get hayracks and turn them upside down, before eventually closing entries early.

All competition entries will close on Wednesday, July 17 ahead of the show.

The Oldcastle Agricultural Show is packed with plenty other activities throughout the day.

A wide range of equine classes will be available, with a family pony riding ring on site.

The Best Young Farmer Competition, sponsored by Meath Farm Machinery, will return for 16–21-year-olds, with a first prize of €300 and a cup.

There will be a large display of vintage tractors, threshing machines, and classic farming equipment as well as live wood sculpting on display on the day.

Smith said they are blessed with the hall, which is specifically designed to host these shows. The competition for approximately 150 classes will take place in the hall this year, showcasing a variety of creativity.

There will be a dog show, sponsored by Cavan Pet Hospital, as well as a birds of prey demonstration on the day.

Smith stated that although the cost of the show has doubled in the past five years, they have kept entry fees at the same low price so families can attend without "breaking the bank".

This includes maintaining free entry for children under 12, as well as access to the wide range of children's entertainment

The show organisers have also arranged for an extra marquee this year, where music will be played and a jiving competition held.

Smith estimates that over 7,000 people will attend the event, depending on the weather.

The show secretary said that while park they use for the enent is open to the public, they have began leasing adjacent land to hold the horse show.

With every corner of the park in use, Smith said she "never though she would see the day they run out of space."