THE point season is nearly upon us and a great day to look forward to, if last year’s meeting is anything to go by, is the Meath and Tara point-to-point on Sunday, October 30th at Dowth.

One of the joint current champion point-to-point lady riders, Aileen O’Sullivan, was at the launch of the point and the country fair at Dowth.

Last year saw crowds of over 3,000 and this year will see a larger Boyne Valley artisan food fair which will feature Michelin star chef Richard Corrigan giving cookery demonstrations using locally sourced produce, which will also be available to buy.

A shopping village with Irish country lifestyle brands will be part of the scene as well as a range of activities within a kid’s zone to keep them entertained.

Running at the old racecourse at Dowth, where races were originally held in the 1700s, the first of six races will start at 12.30pm to be followed by the ever-popular Pony Club children’s races, guaranteed to be action-packed.

Owen Brennan, executive chairman of the Devenish Group, who are hosting the event, said: “We are looking forward to celebrating what promises to be a great day of racing, food and fun for all the family. We were delighted to resurrect racing on the old racecourse and open up Dowth for the local and wider community to enjoy, and hope to build on the success of last year’s event.”

Simon Walford, clerk of the course for Meath & Tara point-to-point committee confirmed that “plans are well underway for October and have been since very shortly after last year’s point-to-point. We are particularly pleased that our first point-to-point here in 2015 produced so many winners, and long may it last.’’

The evening before the races (Saturday, October 29th), the Devenish charity ball in aid of their partner charity Farm Africa will take place for the first time for 250 guests in a marquee in the middle of the racecourse. Guests of the ball will enjoy a feast designed by Richard Corrigan while raising funds for their agricultural development work in Eastern Africa helping farmers to grow more, sell more and sell for more.