Keeping it country - An agri-show novice heads to Claremorris’s 103rd agricultural show

SINCE the start of the summer, almost every day the reels and stories coming up on my Instagram feed have been of an agricultural nature.

Basically it is one-minute clips of farming activity with what seems to be every farm machinery under the sun bringing in the hay. Mostly filmed by young people on their mobiles, the reels can be quite entertaining, especially when they feature some farming mishap while driving some of the most hi-tech tractors you will see.

I have to say it has been an education on the technological advancements in modern farming practices for someone who grew up making hay with the simple rake and a fork. Memories of saving hay and silage on top of a bog in Achill feature the fear of the huge tractors ripping through the field and getting stuck and not the way they spin around the fields in the reels. European engineers designing the Claas and New Holland machinery did not have fields in the west of Ireland in mind when drawing up their plans.

Why they suddenly started appearing on my Instagram feed is a mystery, as I have little or no interest in the latest John Deere. I don’t follow any of these companies or anyone who deals in farming in a big way, so why the algorithm thinks I’ll be interested in the lives of farmers in Poland harvesting wheat on brand new combines is difficult to explain.

Anyway, with no sign of the reels disappearing over the summer months, I took it as a sign from the universe that maybe it was time to keep it country.

Over the summer sign for agricultural shows have been popping up along the roadside and I took this as another nudge. The shows always seem to draw a crowd and, despite there being a number dotted around the county, I have never been to one.

I decided it was time to see what all the fuss is about, and over the August Bank Holiday weekend I made my way to Claremorris for the 103rd Claremorris Agricultural Show.

Bumper crowd

THE last few weeks have been difficult for farmers with the constant rain, so the shows give them an opportunity to get out and enjoy the craic with their families.

Judging by the number of cars that were lined along the N60 outside the athletics track where the show was held there was going to be a bumper crowd.

They say first impressions are everything, and after paying the €10 entry fee my first impressions were not what I expected.

Lined up on the right hand side was the sheep and cattle show and the hum of generators greeted you as you walked in.

In the holding pens, the cattle were being plucked, pruned and shorn to the ninth degree. Industrial hoovers were plugged into the genies and the cattle’s hair was being pulled and curled in every which way. It was a sight to behold. Grown men massaging products of all descriptions into the hair on the cattle while other animals’ locks were being brushed to give the ultimate ‘cows’ lick’. Every bit of time and effort was being put into making the beast as presentable as possible before bringing them to the parade ring.

The parade ring itself reminded me of body-building competitions as the cattle presented their physique for inspection. I swear some of the Belgian Blue bullocks were flexing their muscles as they bulged through the black and white skin.

The sheep show was not as impressive as the cattle show, but nonetheless the sheep were well pampered too with the wool dyed and not a thread out of place. I have been to a few sheep shows around Achill and the mountainy sheep will have to up their game.

Demos and dancing

ANYWAY with the animals out of the way it was time to explore the rest of the show as the crowds started to pour through the gates. The morning showers made way for warm sunshine, which made for a good day out. A huge amount of young families had come to the show, and there was plenty on offer to keep them entertained.

The indoor athletics track was transformed with vegetables of all shapes and sizes on display along with a cookery demo and arts and crafts to beat the band. The adjacent marquee was hosting a fashion show with Westport’s Dermot Langan on MC, who was wearing a suit jacket which only Dermot would have the confidence to pull off at an agri show.

Out on the field in the centre of the athletics track, the horse and pony show was taking place, with riders of all ages taking part in the various classes of competition. The incessant rain over the last month had done the ground no favours, and it started to cut up badly as the day went on.

A show novice I may be, but no show would be worth its salt without a grandstand with a band to entertain the crowd. Earlier in the day, Pat Boyle from Pat’s Country Roadshow had all the country classics laid on to get the crowd in the mood for dancing. It was a tough crowd but, Pat knew his audience, and it was not long before he had them jiving to the country disco beat.

Pressing the flesh

SPECIAL guest Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys officially opened the show. She and Michael Ring could teach a few up-and-coming politicians a thing or two about pressing the flesh. Shows like these are the bread and butter for two experienced Fine Gael politicians, and they are well aware that it is the support of people who attend these shows that ensures they remain in power.

With so much on display and do, it was easy to see why agricultural shows are so popular in this part of the world. But as the band kicked into gear on the grandstand, I realised I had exceeded my quota of country for one day and it was time to ride off into the sunset.