Virginia Show

Virginia Agricultural Show Society
Press release
Highlights for 2008
Wednesday 20th August

Ms Mairead McGuinness, MEP launched the 2008 Virginia Show in Lisgrey House on Thursday 17th July. Mairead has been at Virginia Show most years in either an official or private capacity. She spoke eloquently about the Show itself and about the members and officers who give voluntary of their time to make the show what it is. She spoke of the exciting and challenging times for agriculture, with the turn around to value food production especially by the World Bank and the EU. Since Mr N Sarkozy took the presidency of the EU the first major conference was on “Who will feed the world”. Virginia Show Society members would say “Farmers will feed the world” but the rising inputs costs will create problems.
With 67 years of history behind it, Mairead wished Virginia many more years of success.

This year sees the return of stock from Northern Ireland to compete in the Baileys Cow, The All Ireland Limousin Derby Finals and new purebred Aberdeen Angus classes.

It is an important agricultural event attracting leading national competitions and exhibitors from the 32 counties. The Show takes place on its own grounds along the shores of Lough Ramor adjacent to Virginia College. Virginia Show keeps developing to incorporate the traditional rural farming enterprises with the new vibrant and now diverse community that has grown in the North East area.

Virginia Show will continue this year to host what promises to be an outstanding event. There are over 400 classes with €50,000 prize money. As well as being a showpiece for some of Ireland’s finest livestock, there is a wide selection of classes for garden produce, home industries, fruit and flowers, photography and handwriting. Exhibits of the dairy, beef and equine variety are of supreme quality and not to be contested anywhere in the Northern region.

Cavan County Council will be hosting a water conservation and awareness expo at the Virginia Agricultural show this year. Leader will have their Food & Craft village. Organic food will be available. The will be ample opportunity to visit sustainable living and eco stands, with information for savings on the high costs of electricity and use of power and water. Wind turbines will be a feature.

Agri Aware will be in Virginia with a specially designed potato display unit and travelling mobile farm. There is a window of opportunity for trade and machinery specialist and others in the service sector on the array of trade stands on display, which will deal with all aspects and walks of life. So from young to old, from rural to urban backgrounds, this show is one not to be missed on August 20th.

All-Ireland Finals
25th All Ireland Baileys Champion Dairy Cow Competition
All Ireland Limousin Bull & Heifer Derby Finals
Liffey Meats Champion Beef Bullock
Glanbia Virginia Friesian In-calf-Heifer
Gunne Carnaross Mart All-Ireland Male/Female Weanling Champions
National Irish Bank Champion Pairs of the Show
Lakeland Dairy Champion of the Show
Francie Brady Charolais Champion of the Show
Spar ICA Guild Skills of the Year
Young Stockpersons

Qualifiers in
Traditional Irish Sport Horse Foal All- Ireland Championship
The Gain Colt All- Ireland Championship
Comrad Construction Irish Draught Colt Foal Championship
O’ Connor Meats Irish Draught. Filly Foal Championship
The Laragan Lime All Ireland Beef Bullock Championship
The Gain Dog Food All Ireland Championship

You can get a prize list and entry forms from the Show Office 049 8547197. Fax 049 8548308 email virginiashow@eircom.net or just download from the Society’s new web page www.virginiashow.com

25th Irish Baileys Cow
Sponsored by Baileys and Glanbia Ingredients

Brendan Smyth addressed the press reception and outlined the involvement of Baileys and Glanbia in this competition for 25 years. Brendan commented that it is generally accepted that there no other competition that can attract crowds five or six deep around the ring. Again he paid tribute to the committee for its commitment over 67 years.
One of the highlights of Virginia Show is the crowning of the 25th Baileys Irish Champion Dairy Cow. This competition is tough in nature and well sought after. Cows and calved heifers from Kerry to Donegal will compete with the pick of the stock from the rest of Ireland. International Judges regards it as demonstration of World-Class dairy animals. The overall competition is sponsored to the tune of €8,000. Within “the Baileys” there are other special awards for highest protein, best EBI, best owner-bred cow, best dry cow, best heifer and other highly relevant posts of modern dairy farming. It demonstrates that Irish dairy farmers can face into their changing and competitive world with confidence!
Last year a new exciting section to the “Baileys” was the opportunity for the general public to view the cows prior to entering the ring. Tent accommodation is being made available to the participants when they enter the showgrounds. Here, people will get to talk with the owners of these renowned herds and discuss the milk potential and genetic breeding of these animals. The owners can take this opportunity to display their stock to other dairy farmers who travel from far and wide to see these magnificent cows and heifers. Further Information from Brendan Smyth 087 2560952 or Show Office 049 8547197

All Ireland Bull & Heifer Limousin Derby Finals

The Finals are supported with generous sponsorship by the Ulster Bank and IAWS.
William Smith, President Limousin Society, addressed the Press reception and outlined the path to getting these finals to Virginia. He paid tribute to the work done on the ground as well as to the staff of the DVO office in Cavan who are working with Virginia Show to make this possible.

The much-anticipated second All Ireland Bull & Heifer Derby is due for decision at Virginia Show. The final now moves south of the border for 2008 and it is fitting that one of the largest shows in the North Eastern region is to hold the derby finals, which will be one of the highlights of their show.

The success of the 2007 Derby finals is still being talked about everywhere Limousin enthusiasts meet. The quality of the finalists in both the bull & heifer derby, the enormous amount of spectators from all corners of Ireland and the wonderful sunshine on the day meant a spectacular day for the Limousin breed at the first final in July 2007 at Castlewellan Show. It is rumoured that the day after Castlewellan many Limousin breeders were seen in their fields assessing their stock to see if they had any ‘stars’ for the 2008 Derbies.

With the Limousin breed growing in popularity in Northern & Southern Ireland this competition will highlight all that is good about the Limousin breed in a Limousin extravaganza. The Derbies will be one of the highlights for the breed in their respective areas with the competition for places at the final decided at regional qualifiers in Northern and Southern summer agricultural shows.

If you require further information please contact Elizabeth Rodgers (028-7561714) or Noel Gowen (025-85036) or Show Office 049 8547197.

Liffey Meats €2,000 Champion Beef Bullock

The drawing power of Virginia Show as the number one venue for the exhibitors of top quality commercial cattle is once again borne out by the large entry to the Liffey Meats €2,000 Champion Beef Bullock Competition each year. Entries are confined to Beef Bullocks with not more than four permanent teeth. This reflects current market trends with attention focused on conformation rather than sheer size. Liffey Meats contribution gives an added boost to the show. It provides an incentive for farmers to produce quality beef cattle necessary for the lucrative European Market who pays a higher price for quality beef.

Gunne Carnaross Mart €2,000 Champion Male/Female weanling Champions of the Show

The competition to find the champion non-pedigree male and female weanling of the show is sponsored by Gunne Carnaross Mart. These classes are opened to calves born in 2008.

North Eastern Club Simmental Championship

For Simmental Cattle breeders there is plenty on offer with the highlight being the finals Simmental Championship. Qualifying rounds have already taken place at shows around the Country to select finalists. The wealth of top stock the length and breath of the NE area of the country are attracted to our east Cavan town for the Final.

Classes will be available for a wide variety of cattle including Holstein Friesians, Shorthorns, Herefords, Aberdeen Angus, Charolais, Limousins, Salers, Simmentals, Belgian Blues and all commercial cattle. In the purebred Aberdeen Angus, this year is the first time in years that animals will travel from Northern Ireland to take part in special classes. These breeders will highlight the easy calving and easy-fleshed nature of these animals.
National Irish Bank present the champion pair of pedigree or commercial calves 1year old or under from the same herd.

Novice and Young Stockpersons

A very popular event at Virginia Show is the Young Stockpersons finals in beef, sheep and dairy. It is open to young people between the ages of 12 and 16 years. They are judged on their ability to prepare the animal for judging, general knowledge of the breed of the animal itself and it’s nutritional requirements whilst being prepared, ability to handle and present the animal in the show ring and knowledge of the animal.

Also at the Show

Classes will be available for a wide variety of cattle including Holstein Friesians, Shorthorns, Herefords, Aberdeen Angus, Charolais, Limousins, Salers, Simmentals, Belgian Blues and all commercial cattle. Visitors to the show will have an opportunity to talk to the owners of all these breeds and discuss their merits for the future production to feed world markets. Breed Societies are available to discuss traits with the potential users.

New to the show

New classes are introduced for Parthenaise cattle, which are growing in popularity in Ireland. Mr James Barrett, PRO spoke to the press reception about the new classes and new exhibitors. The suckler farmers have found that their Parthenaise crosses have achieved premium prices in marts. The finishers have been pleased with the growth and kill out grades achieved by Parthenaise cross cattle. 80% have achieved U grade or better.

Heifers retained in herds have calved down with ease and are making valuable suckler cows, with good confirmation, good milk & fertility; they are docile & produce docile calves. An inherent bonus of the Parthenaise breed is that they are very docile & easily managed. Contact James Barrett 086 3502312 or the Show Office 049 8547197.

National Irish Bank present the champion pair of pedigree or commercial calves 1year old or under from the same herd.
The commercial champion of the Show will receive the Jack Love Cup as well as prize money while the Interbreed Champion will also be selected.

Horses & Ponies/ Pony Mounted Games and Dressage

Virginia Show offers the opportunity to get a close view of the best animals being raised in the country at the present time, with the last years’ entries in the showing classes receiving high praise from the judges. There are classes for Brood Mares, Light horses, coloured entries and Ridden Hunters. The Heavy Horse and Clydesdales classes show some of the finest in Ireland. All ponies are catered for. Younger horse enthusiasts will enjoy the pony-mounted games that will be on offer with teams coming from all over Ireland. An exhibition of dressage will take place in the afternoon.

Sheep, Goats, Poultry, Eggs, Farm & Garden produce

This year the sheep at Virginia Show will be competing for the Hugh Faulkner Cup for the Champion Crossbred Sheep, pedigree sheep breeders will be competing for the Patrick Keoghan Cup. Please check special requirements for entering.
National Irish Bank has provided sponsorship for the best pair of pedigree sheep owned by the one exhibitor.
Prize money to a total value of over €2000 will be awarded in sheep categories along with a large number of product prizes. Categories of sheep this year include Suffolks, Texels, Charolais, Vendeens, Cross-Breeds and Flocks. A new sheep stockperson competition for under 16’s will take place at the show this year.

Goats, poultry, eggs and farm & garden produce are expected to receive a high number of entries with total prize money of over €1500 on offer in this area of competition. It is hoped that this year will see more entries in potato or carrot growers and that plenty of entries for turf, hay, grazing grass and maize competitions will be seen.

Baltimore Culinary Arts Institute and Park Hotel Food Demonstration

Will be demonstrating all the is best in high quality Irish Food when they prepare some gourmet meals using top class locally produced ingredients from the hinterland of Virginia. Look out for what mouth-watering delights they are cooking up on the Show Day. Clonarn Clover Eggs, from Mullagh are sponsoring this section.

Food and Crafts Country Markets Fair

Fresh food and crafts are becoming more important in this fast paced world. And due to the success of the last few years food fair, Cavan Monaghan Rural Development Co-op (Leader) are again supporting and expanding stands for the Fair on Show Day. So bring your shopping bags and take home organic, free range and homemade products. The selections of stalls are always fantastic and offer off farm food produce and handmade crafts that are produced locally. All will be available for sale. This fair is grant aided by Cavan Monaghan Rural Development Co-op (Leader). Contact Peter Pollock at 049 4338477 or Show Office 049 8547197

Spar ICA Competition

The popular ICA Guild “Skills of the Year” Competition takes on “Seasons of the year” theme. This year we invite you to Afeast or festival that occurs during your chosen Season. Marks will be allocated in folklore, crafts suitable as a gift, a homemade bouquet and decorated cake completes the new skills competition. Guilds from Cavan, Monaghan and Meath are invited to participate. This competition is kindly sponsored by P. Mc Evoy EuroSpar.

Other classes include Bread and Cakes, Jam, Wine, Needlework and Craftwork.

Fruit and Flowers / Arts

With the bad weather many people are caring for their precious gardens and we hope to see the fruit of their labours on the 20th August.

Handwriting, calligraphy, photography and painting are four categories, which are always well supported, and prize money will be awarded in competitions to suit everyone. This year the Show committee is awarding €30 and a trophy for the best overall photograph.

Second level and national schools

A new initiative to reward leaving Cert Students of Woodwork was launched with great success last year. The general public will now get an opportunity to view the excellent work that Leaving Cert student do each year. John & Goretti O Reilly is sponsored this class. This year there will be a schools cookery section. National Schools in the region have been asked to design a cover for the Show Catalogue. The winning entry will be used for the front cover this year.

Adult Special Needs classes

A new section to the show is the special needs category where the classes have been extended to include an adult section. The Society will award over €250 in prize money.

Children’s classes

Children are not forgotten and will be excited to see classes from painting and poetry to wild flower arranging and handwriting. All entries will receive recognition of their entry.

Dogs

There are thirteen classes available for all varieties of dogs as well as the Champion Dog of the Show. Classes are available for other pets. Also two qualifying classes for the Gain Dog Food All Ireland Championship and one qualifier for the All Ireland Cocker Spaniel Championship sponsored by McGrath Dog food. There is also a special section for pets other than dogs.