The show must go on!

Tullamore Show organisers have stressed they are determined to make it third time lucky! The show was cancelled due to flooding in both 2007 and 2008, but a decision to move to a higher gravel-based site in Blueball, has left organisers confident there will be no repeat performance in 2009. The 2009 event will now be held in Greatwood, Blueball, on land owned by the Butterfield family, after the show executive opted to move from the Charleville Estate. 'We just can"t afford to have a cancellation for the third year running,' said former Offaly county manager Niall Sweeney, who acted as master of ceremonies at sponsors night in the Bridge House Hotel in Tullamore recently. Show Secretary/Administrator Freda Kinnarney said the committee"s motto was now 'onwards and upwards' Show chairman Tom Maher told the gathering there would be more than 500 trade stands, €160,000 in prize money. The difficulties of the past two years would not be repeated, he insisted 'Our executive has put all our problems of the past two years behind them, put them out of our heads in fact. Three cancellations in a row is not going to happen.' Offaly County Manager Pat Gallagher stressed the support of the people of Offaly for the show. He said this was shown by the fact that local sponsors and supporters had remained loyal and urged the committee to continue its work despite the disappointments of the last two years. The show"s main sponsor, AIB, reaffirmed its commitment to the event by increasing this year"s support. AIB regional director Declan Quinn said that 'it was a real challenge to turn out here for the third time in a row when there has been no show'. In such difficult economic times, the Tullamore Show is an example of the 'resilience' and 'all that"s best in rural Ireland', Mr Quinn told the gathering. 'We will see one of the best shows in Ireland or anywhere in the world,' he said. This year"s show takes place on August 9.