30,000 attend Bonni’ Show

30,000 attend Bonni’ Show


Anna Marie Flynn

OVER 30,000 people descended on the north Mayo village of Bonniconlon last week on Bank Holiday Monday for the annual Agricultural Show and Gymkhana.
The 2010 Agricultural Show was officially opened by Mayoman of the Year, Joe Kennedy and featured acres of exhibitions, show jumping, refreshment areas and live music and dancing.
The 61st annual event, which now ranks alongside Tullamore as one of the country’s premier agricultural shows, spanned over 100 acres in the new Showgrounds. The new improved location, complete with new access points and extended car parking facilities, was introduced two years ago to facilitate growing numbers of attendees, exhibitors and All Ireland final categories.
Chairperson John O’Hara, who is also President of the Irish Shows Association for 2010, said he was ‘thrilled’ with the day-long event. “Every year we try to do something different and everyone has worked hard to make this the biggest and best show to date. The loyal sponsors and volunteers, as well as the hard-working committee, make this day possible year in year out,” he said.
Bonniconlon Show is renowned for its community support, with almost every home in the 300-house parish involved in the day’s event.  In February of this year the organising committee was honoured with the 2010 Meitheal Mhaigh Eo award to honour and celebrate the members’ hard work and dedication. “The community is behind the show which is why it works so well,” added the Chairperson.
The show also boasts one of the few remaining traditional show dances in the country, with Mike Denver and his band taking to the stage in The Grove Ballroom to draw the festivities to a close.
The new addition for 2010, the Artisan Food Village, was a huge success and featured award winning, handmade products and the finest of quality foods and drinks. Show goers were not left wanting as the village boasted delicious baked goods supplied by Country Kitchen Catering of Kiltimagh, handmade fudge by Ballina’s ‘Farineau Fudges’, a huge selection of fine cheeses from Cheese Etc. the Irish Farmhouse cheese specialist,  jams, chutney and sauces from a ‘Taste of Days Gone By’, a Bridgestone award winner in 2009 and 2010, while Nature’s Cures were also on hand  with hand-blended herbal teas.