A RECORD €1 million package for Ireland’s agricultural shows was announced this week by the Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys TD.

Some 122 shows, throughout the 26 counties, will avail of the funding, a 40% increase on 2022. According to the Department, their grants will “support show committees in staging their events over the summer season” and are administered by the Irish Shows Association (ISA), the umbrella body for agricultural shows.

“Our agricultural shows sum up all that is good about rural Ireland. They are intrinsically linked to that sense of community that our rural towns and villages are known for. The shows are key dates in the summer calendar and are a central point for the agri-food industry, the farming community and our local artisan producers,” said Minister Humhreys,

The latest tranche brings the total agricultural show funding, since 2018, to under €3.3 million. Lobbying for such funding was first carried out by former ISA presidents Paddy Joe Foy and Michael Hughes with the initial package announced in 2018 by Minister Humphreys’ predecessor Michael Ring, TD.

The latest package is funded under Project Ireland 2040 as part of ‘Our Rural Future.’ This whole-of-government policy (2021-2025) for rural Ireland is intended to represent “a new milestone in the approach to rural development policy for Ireland.”

Raymond Brady, the current ISA president said: “Once again we are extremely grateful to Minister Humphreys and her Department for the support they have given to our member shows. This support will help our shows to grow and continue to host these vital, informative and enjoyable rural events, run by an incredible group of volunteers who want to contribute to ‘our rural future.’

“Our agricultural shows are so important in rural Ireland for two reasons: their economic value and their social value. They bring great economic benefits to our rural towns and villages,” added ISA national secretary Jim Harrison.

Grants for individual shows range from €3,245 (Monivea) up to a maximum allocation (€11,400) to four shows: Cork Summer Show, Iverk, Tinahely and Tullamore.

The typical allocation per show ranges from €6,700 to €8,525. Galway (total allocation €139,900) hosts the most Irish agricultural shows (20), followed by Cork (16, €138,985).