This article is from page 34 of the 2007-05-29 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 34 JPG
FINAL preparations are being made this week for one of the first heralds of the summer in north Clare, the an- nual Ennistymon Agricultural Show. The two-day show, which takes place this Saturday and Sunday, June 2 and 3, attracts large crowds to Ennisty- mon’s Falls Hotel, both to watch and take part.
This year’s show includes a number of new events which should keep young and old entertained over the bank holiday weekend.
“One of the new elements of this year’s show is the adult art section. Children’s art has always been very big, there was hundreds and hun- dreds of entries over the last number
of years. So we have a qualifier this year for the adult art All-Ireland,” said show PRO Maurice Harvey.
“There is also a new competition this year for the best dressed mother and child up to the age of 10. That’s a new one. The dog show has been growing very rapidly. It was surpris- ing last year, there were more people around the dog show than around e1- ther the cattle or the horses.”
Alongside the many arts and craft competitions, there is also a large ag- ricultural section which 1s a big draw for spectators.
“There would be about five horse All-Ireland qualifiers at the show and probably about the same in cat- tle. The standard has got so high in Ennistymon that the qualifiers would
normally be there or thereabouts at the All-Ireland,’ said Chairman James Garrahy.
“One great achievement, about three years ago, was our number one and two horses finished first and sec- ond in the All-Ireland. The fact that it is early in the year encourages a lot of the people who would be bringing horses and who would be anxious to get them out and get them active.”
Although hundreds will come to the show to compete in competi- tions, many, many more will come to spectate and soak up the festival atmosphere.
“We would normally get a great crowd on the Sunday. The Saturday is all jumping, it popular with its own group but you would get a much big-
ger crowd on the Sunday. The biggest factor about the crowd on Sunday is really the weather,’ continued Mau- rice.
‘The one thing that really helps the show is that we have the hospitality of the Falls Hotel. It really helps a lot. There are very few shows who have a four -star hotel in the middle of everything. It means a lot, people can take a break to have something to ear or watch a match on TV. It is ereat to have it.”