Welcome funding boost for Tullamore Show

The annual Tullamore Show - which is the biggest one-day event of its kind in Ireland - has received a welcome funding boost in the region of €6,000 from the Department of Agriculture's Project 2040 'Our Rural Future' programme.

Tullamore Show is one of a number of Agriculture Shows across the Midlands to receive funding from today's announcement by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, with Shows in Moate, Athlone, Mullingar, Roscommon and Ballinasloe also set to benefit.

Minister Humphreys said Agricultural Shows signal “fun, energy and a sense of community” for rural dwellers, and are “a shop window” for local produce. “I believe it is vitally important to our rural communities that we support the efforts of the show committees and the hard work of their volunteers, and I hope this funding will help put the shows on a firmer financial footing and will provide vital support to the committees” she added.

With Agricultural Shows across the country unable to take place over the past two years due to Covid restrictions, funding has become an issue and today's announcement is designed to ensure that these events can once again be placed on a sound financial footing. Funding allocations will be made on the basis of vouched expenditure for each Show.

Tullamore Show will make a welcome return to the local farming calendar on Sunday, August 14 next, and is sure to attract competitors and visitors from all parts of Ireland and from overseas.

The Department of Rural and Community Development funding is administered by the Irish Shows Association (ISA). The ISA is the official recognised body representing Irish Agricultural Shows on the island of Ireland. It has more than 130 affiliated agricultural shows (10 based in the North), which run throughout the summer and into the autumn each year