Connacht Spring Show officially launched

SHOW STARTERS?Pictured at the launch of the Connacht Spring Show to be held at Ballinrobe Racecourse on May 17, from left: Irene Swanick, Catwalk Model Agency; John Flannelly, Racecourse Manager; John Staunton, Chairman, Race Committee; Rachel O’Connor, Show Project Co-ordinator; Peter McDonagh and Paddy Rock, Organisers and Sarah Stevens, Catwalk Model Agency.?Pic: Trish Forde

Connacht Spring Show officially launched

Ciara Galvin

IN its fifth year, the Connacht Spring Show promises to be bigger and better on May 17 next at Ballinrobe Racecourse.

At its official launch on Friday evening last, racecourse manager John Flannelly described the event as ‘phenomenal’ and one which generates a great deal of business for the town. 

The theme of this year’s show is ‘Health and Safety on and off the Farm’ and the ‘50 Bales a day Challenge’. The show’s chosen charity this year is the Irish Heart Foundation. The event will attract over 100 trade stands and new attractions on the day include trick ponies, a poetry show and Cong Food village food demonstrations by Jonathan Keane from The Lodge at Ashford. To add an air of excitement to the day, event organiser Paddy Rock told those gathered that award winning butcher SeΡn Kelly has challenged Jonathan. On the day of the show SeΡn will organise a delivery of ingredients to the racecourse and whatever the delivery contains Jonathan must rustle up a delicious meal. Speaking on the issue of farm safety, Padraig Corrigan of the National Irish Safety Organisation said it was important for the farm safety message to get across to farmers with 30 deaths on Irish farms last year and five so far this year. 

The shearing greats of Seamus Breathnach, Tom Holleran and Patrick Kerrigan, among many others were in attendance to hear that this year a new cup will be added to proceedings. 

Peter McDonagh, one of the event organisers announced the introduction of the Ger Heraghty  Perpetual Cup in memory of the late Connacht Spring Show stalwart. 

McDonagh praised the work of John Flannelly and his family for their help in accommodating the show at the course and said they were ‘a credit to Ballinrobe’.

Details of the show’s ‘Decorate a Cake’ competition were also announced. This year AIB is sponsoring a competition which will be open to would be bakers in south Mayo, and cakes will be raffled on the day, in aid of charity.