Over 60,000 people are expected to attend today’s Tullamore Show and AIB Livestock Show, which takes place in the Butterfield Estate in Blueball, Tullamore.
Current indications from Met Eireann suggest that it will be a mostly dry day, with temperatures in the low 20s – ideal show weather.
The show attracts the best in Ireland of dairy, pedigree and commercial cattle and sheep and it is Ireland’s largest one-day show. This year also marks the 25th anniversary since the Show’s revival.
Organisers say that 2016 promises to be even bigger and better, with many new and innovative aspects, including the involvement of youth groups from the UK.
On the livestock side of the show, there are over 1,000 livestock competitions at this year’s show and there’s a total prize fund of €168,000 at this year’s event.
New classes have been added this year for Ayrshire Dairy Cattle, Blue Faced Leicester Sheep, and Pigs.
Organisers have also said that over 700 trade stands have booked into this year’s show. There will be a wide range of businesses on show from machinery, equipment, motor, food, home, garden, lifestyle, clothing and so forth.
There’s also cooking demonstrations from Bord Bia with celebrity chefs, a best-dressed lady competition and children’s entertainment – so there will be something for everyone at this year’s show.
The Gardai have tailored a traffic plan for this year’s show so if you’re attending, here are the best routes to follow;
Free car parking is provided adjacent to the show grounds and motorists will be directed along four dedicated routes to each of four car parks as follows:
North/North East Traffic – (Kilbeggan, N.52, N.80 etc.)
Traffic from this direction will be diverted via the Tullamore by-pass to the Birr Road and access the Green Car Park adjacent to the Showgrounds.
West/North West Traffic – (From Athlone M6 direction)
Traffic will be diverted off the M6 after Athlone and via Clara, Coolnahiley and Rahan where they will be accommodated at the Yellow Car Park adjacent to the showgrounds.
South/South East Traffic – (Portlaoise, Mountmellick, N.80 direction)
Will be diverted at Killeigh Village towards the Showgrounds, where they will be accommodated at the Blue Car Park.
South/South West Traffic – (From Birr N.52 Direction)
Will be diverted left at Blueball to the Red Car Park adjacent to the Showgrounds.
A periodic reversible one-way traffic system will operate around the Showgrounds at peak times in the morning and the evening. This will result in delays.
No Parking will be permitted on the diversion routes or roads in the precinct of the Showgrounds. These will be ‘Tow Away Areas’.
Exhibitors at the show:
Exhibitors are requested to follow exhibitors signs and to arrive before 9.30am in order to avoid delays. Please display exhibitor badges clearly.
After 9.30am the exhibitor route will close and exhibitors will have to use regular car parking facilities.
All exhibitors, with the exception of livestock, will be directed to the main site entrance situated on the Blueball/Rahan Road.
Livestock, including horses, will gain access to the site via the closed section of the N52. Please follow signs for livestock.