IRELAND’s agricultural shows face a curtailed season as a growing number of fixtures have cancelled due to the Covid-19 outbreak. However, on a positive note, the €600,000 allocated by Michael Ring TD, Minister for Rural and Community Development, for agricultural shows is now ring-fenced for cancelled shows to use next year instead.

The allocation, announced last October, was the third year of Department funding for approximately 120 agricultural shows and is regarded by show committees as a financial lifeline.

A Department spokesperson confirmed yesterday that any agricultural show that does take place this year can utilise their 2020 allocation of approximately €5,000.

“Minister Ring has confirmed to the Irish Shows Association that those shows that do not take place in 2020 can instead avail of their portion of the funding to support their show in 2021. In light of the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, the funding originally earmarked for those shows will be retained in trust by the Irish Shows Association and distributed to the affected shows in 2021.”

Cancelled

Jim Harrison, the Irish Shows Association (ISA) national secretary, confirmed that a number of shows had already cancelled, including Armagh County (June 13th), Bandon (May 17th), Ballymoney (June 5th - 6th), Belgooly (May 31st), Charleville (June 27th - 28th), Dungarvan (July 12th), Gorey (June 20th), Lurgan (June 6th), Newry (June 27th), Newbridge College Show (May 10th), Newmarket-on-Fergus (May 3rd), Omagh (July 3rd - 4th), Tullamore (August 9th) and Westport (May 31st - June 1st).

“The current situation is a good few shows have cancelled because of Covid-19,” said Jim Harrison, told The Irish Field. “We’ve got our funding ring-fenced for 2021, we definitely have that. If a show runs this year, they can use it this year if they want to. Sponsorship will not be easy got, businesses are closed, that’s the long and short of it.

“So it is very, very important to have that Department money going forward into 2021 for shows to start off again, it gives them a great cushion to start with. Shows are very important to rural life and we’d like to thank Michael Ring for all he has done for both.”

Acknowledging that many early season shows would most likely be cancelled, Harrison emphasised that shows would not take place until government restrictions are lifted. “We’ve followed those rules so far and we will to the end.” In a first for the umbrella body for Irish agricultural shows, their most recent meeting two weeks ago was carried out via conference call.

“It was the first time ever we had a board meeting by conference call and we’re having another one on Tuesday night to figure the way forward with our All Ireland championships.”

Several exhibitors have cut back on the numbers of horses they planned to produce this year and others queried if the ISA would consider running their All Ireland finals, by direct entry, in autumn. “That will be entirely up to the Board, nothing has been decided on that yet,” added Harrison.

ISA national president Catherine Gallagher said: “Due to the current crisis, the ISA is continuing to monitor the situation and working closely with our affiliated shows throughout the island of Ireland. While we are guided by Government guidelines on Covid19 pandemic, it’s not possible to predict when this is going to cease and restrictions lifted to facilitate normal activities. These are very difficult times for all of us and the Irish Shows Association must put the wellbeing of all communities first.”