Tullamore Show ‘25 deemed best ever

As the sun set over the sprawling Butterfield Estate near Blueball on Sunday evening, organisers of the annual Tullamore Show and FBD National Livestock Show hailed it as “the best show ever” with an estimated attendance of over 70,000 set to break all previous records.

Crowds from all parts of the country began to descend on the sun-drenched site from early on Sunday morning, and by mid-afternoon there was a real festival atmosphere as farmers and their families enjoyed the myriad of events and attractions on offer.

As he worked alongside an army of volunteers to dismantle the huge show village on Wednesday afternoon, Show Chairman John Keena joked that the only complaint he had heard throughout the day on Sunday last was that the outdoor dance floor “wasn't big enough” to accommodate the hordes of toe-tapping revellers who were anxious to strut their stuff in the sunshine.

“It was the best Tullamore Show ever,” said the Ferbane-based farmer, who is serving the first of a four-year term as Chairman.

“To be honest I didn't think we could better last year's show, but we did, and I honestly don't know what more we can do for next year to surpass it.”

The task of performing the official opening of Tullamore Show and the FBD National Livestock Show on Sunday fell to Tánaiste, Simon Harris, due to the unavoidable absence of Taoiseach, Michéal Martin, and also Agriculture Minister, Martin Heydon.

The Tánaiste left no stone unturned in his bid to reassure farmers of the Government's unwavering commitment to rural Ireland and ensuring balanced regional development, describing Tullamore Show as “the heartbeat of rural Ireland".

In his opening address, chairman John Keena paid a warm tribute to two show stalwarts who had passed away since last year's event, Christy Maye, a founding member, and the late Tommy Finlay, and added that the many volunteers who have contributed to making the event the success that it is are “the unsung heroes”.

Among the long list of people that Mr Keena paid tribute to in ensuring the success of the event were show sponsors, FBD, the site owners, adjoining landowners, local residents, Offaly County Council, the Fire Service and An Garda Siochána.

“The show is a real collective event, and without the unseen work of hundreds of people behind the scenes it just wouldn't happen,” stressed Mr. Keena this week. However, he added that “weather, weather, weather” also plays a hugely important role in bringing the crowds out pointed out that Tullamore had been “blessed with blue skies all day” on Sunday.

When asked to select his own personal favourite among the many events at Tullamore Show, John Keena admitted that it was “a very hard question to answer” but he said he took great satisfaction in walking around the site and observing the “real, genuine family atmosphere.” He also said the Parade of Champions was one of his “particular favourites” on the day, and he was heartened to see the excitement on the winners faces at having “won a prize at Tullamore Show”.