THE benefits of Departmental funding and the perennial issue of exhibitors abusing judges were the key issues at the Irish Shows Association (ISA) annual general meeting. Held in Newry last weekend, it also the last official function of the association’s national secretary Michael Hughes.

The AGM attracted a full house and saw Southern region member David Sheehan return unopposed as the association’s president. The Limerick solicitor described the funding granted by the Department of Rural and Community Development as “a shot in the arm” to agricultural shows. He thanked Minister Michael Ring for his commitment to Irish shows, adding that the Minister was well aware of the importance of agricultural shows to both rural communities and the general economy.

Sheehan felt the only disappointment was that the current tranche of funding wasn’t extended to shows north of the border, regarded as “an integral and valued part of the Irish Shows Association,” but that no such cross-border funding scheme was available at this time. He also expressed thanks to Michael Creed, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for the department’s grant to offset insurance costs.

BAN WARNING

Sheehan strongly rebuked certain exhibitors who inflicted “occasional vitriolic attack and verbal abuse at judges and other participants in shows,” warning that such behaviour could result in a ban.

He praised Michael Hughes’s dedication to his role as national secretary, saying that President John F. Kennedy defined success or failure by asking if a person fulfilled the traits of courage, judgement, integrity and dedication and that his board member colleague possessed all those in abundance.

In his final Secretary’s Report, Hughes echoed the association’s appreciation for Government department funding in 2018 and thanked the many elements that contribute to agricultural shows, including his “genuine colleagues.” He expressed concern over the protracted Brexit negotiations and hoped there would be a satisfactory outcome. He thanked Dorothea Lazenby, the longest-serving board member, David Sheehan and incoming national secretary Jim Harrison for their support.

Harrison said his goal was to raise the ISA’s profile, adding that he believed the main challenge is to bring more young people on board show committees. He asked that each committee add two young members this year. “Give them a section to look after and encourage them as much as possible. If they make a mistake, what about it because the man that never made a mistake never did too much.”