“PRAISE the youth and they will prosper,” stated Macra na Feirme president Thomas Duffy, the guest speaker at the Irish Shows Association (ISA) AGM, where he urged shows to get more young people involved with their local show.

Rejuvenation was a welcome theme of this year’s annual gathering of the country’s 130-plus agricultural shows, from the revamped ISA website (www.irishshows.org) to the youthful contingent from Arva Show present in Mullingar last Saturday.

Ending his two-year term as ISA president was popular Limerick man David Sheehan, who handed over the voluntary position to Catherine Gallagher, from Grange. Closely involved with her local North Sligo Agricultural Show, the Sligo lady now becomes the ISA’s second lady president, after Dorothea Lazenby (2006-2007).

Dorothea Lazenby and Catherine Gallagher, the first and current lady presidents of the Irish Shows Association at the AGM \ Susan Finnerty

Agricultural shows evolving to keep pace with a multitude of weekend family attractions is an issue the new ISA president is keenly aware of saying: “Animals are of course paramount to the event but it’s not all about livestock at a show, not anymore. It has to be an all-round event.”

David Sheehan had earlier noted that young horse class entries struggled to reach beyond single digits, however this was balanced out by strong numbers in ridden horse classes.

He also thanked Minister Michael Creed for the Department of Agriculture grant which helped defray insurance costs, and Michael Ring, Minister for Rural and Community Development, for extending agricultural show funding for a third year.

Caught On Candid Camera: Outgoing ISA president David Sheehan and Bill Leeman, Northern region at their AGM \ Susan Finnerty

Insurance struggles

ISA national secretary Jim Harrison also referred to the insurance issue, disclosing that only one insurance company is now prepared to offer the association cover for its member shows.

He likened stepping into the shoes of former office holder Michael Hughes (also in attendance) as someone trying to fill Sir Alex Ferguson’s role at Manchester United.

Among the topics raised from the floor at a well-attended and amicable AGM was the issue of some judges undertaking too many judging engagements and how this was proving off-putting for exhibitors.

Macra na Feirme president Thomas Duffy was an inspired choice as guest speaker for the capacity dinner dance that evening in the Bloomfield House Hotel, where IFA presidential candidate Angus Woods was present at the Iverk Show table.

Thomas spoke about his family’s involvement with their local show, Virginia, and a changing society, saying that we are living in an increasingly divided world, how this division is getting larger and the younger generation are the first to be brought up without automatic respect for older generations.

“We’re fighting Netflix and cans,” he said speaking about the challenges and apathy facing voluntary organisations recruiting new members before welcoming the next generation of show committee members from Arva Show.

Among a slew of presentations made throughout the day were ones to former president Carl Gilsenan, who retired from the ISA board and Eileen Ahern for Belgooly Show’s 75th anniversary.

What they said

“It is no exaggeration to say that this [Department of Rural and Community Development] funding provided welcome financial lifejackets to our shows, which were floundering on the waves of uncertain futures” – David Sheehan

“Rural Ireland or shows can’t survive without succession” – Thomas Duffy (right)

“The expense of running a show today is phenomenal, be it a big or small one. You still have to have certain things in place. Insurance is a big worry. We keep emphasising that owners should have their own insurance cover and we need to get that message across” – Catherine Gallagher

“The focus of our deliberations should always be firmly placed on the survival and advancement of our network of shows.

“However, we must always ensure that the standard of our classes, and in particular our All Ireland championships, are maintained at a very high level” – David Sheehan