Virginia Show  Wednesday 21 August.

For the 72nd time, Virginia Show is inviting you and your family, exhibitors and visitors from the four corners of Ireland and beyond to come to Virginia on Wednesday 21 August. Virginia will be alive with all the sights and sounds associated with early autumn.  A day for everyone, the serious business of over 470 classes happens alongside food markets, children’s amusements, trade stands, demonstrations and the hustle and bustle of a great day out.  In an Ireland of increased awareness of food traceability, Virginia Show allows you to see and talk with the people who set the high standards of the Irish dairy, beef, and sheep industries.

CORE FARMING SHOWCASES

30^th Diageo Baileys Irish Champion Dairy Cow 2013 in association with Glanbia.

The Diageo Baileys Irish Champion Cow Competition, which is sponsored by Diageo in association with its cream supplier, Glanbia Ingredients Ireland Ltd promises to be a truly spectacular event. The competition is celebrating its 30th Anniversary this year and is expected to attract competition from the top Holstein Friesian breeders in the country who will exhibit their finest pedigree cows in a battle for the top prize of €2,500 and a Reserve prize of €1,000.

Minister of State for the Department of Agriculture, Tom Hayes T.D. is expected to present the top prizes. Faced with the tough task of tapping out the winner will be Canadian-born judge Lynden Bustard. Along with the cheque for €2,500, the winner he selects will take home the Virginia Milk Products trophy. €1,000 will be awarded to the breeder of the ‘Reserve Champion’. There will also a Best Heifer-in-Milk prize fund of €1,700. 1st place attracts a prize of €500, 2nd place will be awarded €300, and €200 will go to 3rd place. In addition, €100 will be awarded to entrants from 4th to 10th place inclusively. Trophies will be presented for Highest Protein Content, Best EBI and Best Exhibitor-Bred Cow. There are special awards for Best Protein and EBI emphasis, important factors in milk production.

Annual highlights in the cattle section

Gunne Carnaross Mart All-Ireland €2000, Male/Female Weanling Champion, Liffey Meats €2000 Champion Beef Bullock, and the Glanbia Virginia €700 Friesian In-calf-Heifer. Other highlights include the Lakeland Dairy Champion of the Show, Francie Brady Charolais Champion of the Show, A.W. Ennis Interbreed Champion of the Show, Lisgrey House Restaurant Commercial Champion of the show both the North Eastern Simmental and Charolais Clubs will also hold their Junior Championship Finals at Virginia. New to the Show is the Univet Ireland Ltd and Virginia Show Commercial Heifer Championship for all non pedigree baby beef heifers with no permanent teeth on Show Day open to continental and non continental animals.

New this year : Gathering of farmers at Virginia Show. 

To celebrate the year of the Gathering, Virginia Show have invited farmers from England, Wales and Holland, Northern Ireland and Discussion groups to our Summer Tour & Conference 2013 The Seminar  takes place at  10.30 am in Virginia College, the Seminar is entitled “Modern Irish Dairy farming – best practice” “The National experience of pasture based systems” Bertie Troy,  Grasstec,  “Efficient Farming Infrastructure for modern Irish systems “ Andrew Cromie,  ICBF,  “The role of Genetics in the modern dairy cow” Joe Patton Teagasc, “Feed and nutrition of dairy cows”. This will be followed by questions and answers session. This Seminar will be chaired by Padraig Walshe former President of Macra, IFA and CEJA. The visitors will already have travelled on Tuesday to the local farms of Owen Brodie and Patrick Stratford (committee members) to see grassland management and developing a dairy herd from a former suckler herd. They will also visit Joe Leonard’s Julianstown farm on their way back to the airport to see among other important aspects, outdoor cubicles and will have a chance to discuss all three farms with David Colbourne, Teagasc Advisor.

The 26^th 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, any age. This year celebrates 26 years of sponsorship by our own Liffey Meats and their contribution gives an added boost to their local show. It provides an incentive for farmers to produce quality beef cattle necessary for the lucrative European Market where Liffey Meats exports to in order to get a higher price for the quality beef produced in this area.

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

Another competitive display of high quality animals is the competition to find the champion non-pedigree male and female weanling of the show. Sponsored by Gunne Carnaross Mart, who sales attract high quality stock from all over Ireland. These classes are opened to calves born in 2013.  Maximum weight male is 430 kgs and female calf is 380 kgs.

North Eastern Charolais Club Championships

The North Eastern Charolais Club are holding the North Eastern Charolais Club Junior Championships at Virginia show this year. There are five classes with €200 worth of prize money in each class. Exhibitors are limited to counties Cavan, Monaghan, Meath, Westmeath, Longford, Louth, and Dublin.

North Eastern Club Simmental Championship

For Simmental cattle breeders there is plenty on offer with the highlight being the finals of the North East Simmental Championship. 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. They will compete for the John Morton Memorial Cup.

Commercial champion of the Show is sponsored by Lisgrey House and will receive the Jack Love Cup while the A W Ennis Interbreed Champion will also be selected.

Novice and Young Stockpersons

Virginia are delighted to have a qualifier competition for the YMA showmanship league final in both under 16 and aged 16-26 sections. The young stockpersons finals in beef, sheep and dairy are always very popular events at Virginia Show. Open to young people between the ages of 12 and 16 years, they are judged on their ability to prepare the animal for judging and general knowledge of the breed of the animal itself. They are also examined on the animals’ nutritional requirements whilst being prepared, ability to handle and present the animal in the show ring and knowledge of the animal. Virginia has also a unique Novice Competition and entrants can be any age, so long as they have not shown before.

Qualifiers will take place in:  Traditional Irish Sport Horse Foal All-Ireland Championship, The Irish Draught Colt Foal Championship, All Ireland Donkey Mare Championship, The Yearling Filly All Ireland Championship, Connacht Gold Feeds ATP All Ireland Beef Bullock Championship, Greenvale Animal Feeds All Ireland Beef Heifer Championship, The Gain Dog Food All Ireland Championship, The All-Ireland Gun Dog Championship.

Horses & Ponies

Among the classes are Brood mare, light and coloured horses, ridden hunter and cob, Heavy horses, with classes for palomino horses and ponies, Welsh and Connemara as well as the miniature horses and donkeys. There are cups and trophies for many classes with a new cup in memory of Wilkie Lyttle, former Master Steward of the Horse Section for the Champion ridden hunter of the Show.

Cattle

There are dairy and beef classes for all cattle. These include Holstein Friesians, crossbred classes, commercial classes, and continental, Shorthorns, Herefords, Aberdeen Angus, Charalois, Limousin, Salers, Simmentals, Belgian Blues, Aubrac, Blonde D’Aquitaine, and Parthenaise.

Other Classes

There will be strong competition for Sheep, including the Paddy Keoghan Perpetual Memorial Cup for Pedigrees and the Hugh Faulkner Cup for crossbreds as well as classes for Suffolks, Texels, Charalois, and Vendeen. There are also classes for Goats, Poultry, Farm & Garden Produce, Oats Barley, Turf, Hay, Grazing, and Maize.

LIFESTYLE SHOWCASES

Fleetwood All Ireland Final Art Competition

We have the All Ireland Final Art Competition which our local paint manufacturer, Fleetwood Paints Ltd are kindly sponsoring. This is an amateur arts competition and will depict an agricultural or rural scene. Exhibitors will come from qualifying shows all over Ireland to Virginia. The Society also caters for  special classes for paintings, photographs, a short story and a poem entitled “the Gathering”.

Celebrating ICA

McEvoys Supervalu are once again sponsoring the ICA Guild Skills of the Year, focused on the theme seasonal celebrations, with guilds from Monaghan, Cavan and Meath, competing  for the McEvoy Crystal Bowl, and prizemoney of €400 as well as individual awards.

Virginia Heritage Society will have a Fair Day Pet Farm and other farming activities from olden times. For Virginia 400the anniversary, the Fitzsimons Family of Main Street recorded thousands of old photographs of people and places around Virginia down through the centuries and it is hoped to have a DVD available for viewing. Memories of John F Kennedy’s visit to Ireland 50 years ago will also be recalled.

Neven Maguire and a “Baileys Chocolate Sensation”.

Get there early to claim a seat at the always popular food demonstrations. Use this opportunity to see celebrity chef Neven Maguire cooking up a storm with local produce. This very popular Chef, Neven trained in some of the highest profile restaurants in the world and he has now turned a local restaurant into a national phenomenon. He will be making a special treat the “Baileys Chocolate Sensation” to celebrate the 30^th Diageo Baileys Champion Cow Competition. Patrons will also get a chance to meet Richard Corrigan, renowned Chef from London.

Riverfront Bar & Restaurant Pastry Food Tray Competition

The Home Industries section of the show itself has a new Riverfront Bar & Restaurant Pastry Food Tray Competition with qualifiers from around the region and this is kindly sponsored by the Riverfront Bar & Restaurant. There are new classes for gluten free bread, cup cakes and biscuits. This year the bread and cakes exhibitors will compete once again for the Una McEnroe Perpetual Cup, kindly donated by Una, who has been one of our greatest exhibitors down through years.

Sheridan’s cheesemongers are both retailers and wholesalers of quality Irish and other European foods. They are committed to sourcing excellent quality artisan products and where possible forging links directly with the food producers themselves. Franck Le Moenner will host a Brittany cooking workshop.

As well as this, food markets and trade stands allow you to interact, ask questions, and discuss what you need with those involved in all sorts of production.

Arts & Crafts.

This section includes classes for Fruit & Flowers, Home industries, Craftwork, Hand writing, short stories, poetry, paintings, photography, confined sections to Active Age Groups and Children.

Dog section.

There are The Gain Dog Food All Ireland Championship, and the All-Ireland Gun Dog Championship. The Dog and pets are not forgotten. There are numerous classes for dogs and furry pets.

Road Safety Authority Interactive Shuttle

RSA shuttle: The ‘Road Safety Interactive Shuttle’- which plays an integral role in increasing and developing road safety awareness at local and national level. This will be achieved through an interactive Shuttle which has been fitted out and designed to the highest standard. The roll-over simulator is very effective when trying to encourage people to use safety belts. This is a car fitted to a hydraulic platform which can simulate a 360 degree roll-over which demonstrates how it would feel if you were a driver or passenger involved in a less than desirable incident. We will show you the effects of being suspended by your seat belt. After this demonstration, people will never travel in a car without a seat belt on!  We will also do demonstrations using real size dummies which will also show where you can end up when you are not using your seatbelt.

Cavan Community Road Show

Cavan Community Forum is hosting the Community Road Show at the Virginia Show They will celebrate their activities as volunteers and promote the work done. The winning exhibition will be awarded the Ann Tully Perpetual Trophy.

Gathering Concert with dance, singing and Music on the Gig Rig

Lots of entertainment including song and dance, Irish and line dancing with a good session will keep people entertained all afternoon. So if you enjoy good music and craic don’t forget to make time to enjoy the best of Irish talent. We are delighted to have local talent on display here, with music from “Familiar Faces” and Line Dancers They will set up a revival of the old Carnival style dancing Women on the left and 3 songs in the set. There will also be a “Ladies Choice” for the craic!.

Once again we have competitions for the most appropriately dressed person. With the increase in population in this part of Cavan, we were asked to facilitate other interests and be inclusive of all ages and interests.

Show Dance

The Show night will bring Wednesday nights in Virginia alive when the show dance takes place in Club V in the Riverfront Hotel. Don’t forget to finish off the day with a night of dancing to the sounds of Declan Nerney.

Sponsors

Without sponsorship, the Show would not take place, so we are very grateful for all donations big and small. We once again appeal to businesses and individual concerns to join us and help fund our Show.

IN TOTAL OVER 470 CLASSES FOR ALL LIVESTOCK, FARM & GARDEN PRODUCE, HOME INDUSTRIES, ARTS & CRAFTS, CHILDREN CLASSES, DOG & PET SHOW

So please join us this year, enjoy the classes, stop at the trade stands, join the demonstrations, bring a group to Cavan on August 21^st

Further information from the Show Office 049 8547197. Fax 049 8548308 email virginiashow@eircom.net or just download from the Society’s web page www.virginiashow.com or join us on Facebook and Twitter. email virginiashow@eircom.net

The development of an Exhibition arena and Integrated Resource Centre.

 Virginia has just been approved for the maximum matching funding of €500,000 by Minister Phil Hogan, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, informed Cavan-Monaghan Leader to approve funding to Virginia Show Centre Ltd for the development of an Exhibition Hall and Integrated Resource Centre, a  facility will comprise a large enclosed exhibition space, a community kitchen and associated dining hall, a craft and tourist shop and external space for farmer’s market’s, office accommodation, training rooms and meeting rooms, computer facilities and a museum, and ancillary facilities that were identified in a feasibility study in 2008. The funding is being provided under the Basic Services for the Economy and Rural Population measure of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 and is administered by Cavan Monaghan LEADER (Breffni Integrated Ltd and Monaghan Integrated Development Ltd) 049 4338477.

The committee has identified the following key objectives.

To provide for the social and educational needs through the provision of social infrastructure and facilities and to encourage cooperation between local community groups to achieve common goals;

To promote interest, education, knowledge and pride in the rural heritage including the natural, historical and architectural heritage found in Virginia and the surrounding area;

To encourage economic activity in the area with a strong focus on the development of agri-tourism,  and agri related businesses.

To develop facilities and infrastructure which will service the needs of the annual Virginia Agricultural Show and other organisations including local and national organisations such as breed societies.

Centre’s Location & Facilities

Virginia Show Centre Ltd. will be based at the Showgrounds located to the rear of Main Street, Virginia and adjacent to Virginia College. In addition to the annual agricultural show the Showgrounds is used for a variety of community purposes including the annual Vintage Fair Day and the Pumpkin Festival as well as dedicated classes and other intermittent and fundraising activities. The Virginia Show Centre will be a facility for the entire community, from the very young to the old and will foster a new sense of place among the existing established community in the Virginia hinterland and the new residents in the area.

 Virginia Show Centre Ltd is wholly owned by Virginia Agricultural Society Incorporated. 

Virginia Show Society was established in 1941 and is made up of 200 members. The Society bought the Showgrounds in the 1940’s and built the Farmers Hall in the 1950’s. It then built Virginia Vocational School opened in 1962 and handed it to Cavan VEC. They have facilitated three major extensions to the school which has grown as the area has unprecedented population growth. The show committee draws its membership primarily from the southeast Cavan area, mainly from the farming community in Virginia and the surrounding areas of: Bailieborough, Ballyjamesduff, Billis, Castlerahan, Carnaross, Cross, Killinkere, Lurgan, Maghera, Mullagh, Munterconnaught, and Oldcastle and is very much cross community in nature.

The Committee which now spans in some cases three generations of the same family has successfully run Virginia Agricultural Show now for 72 Years. The Show society is run on a voluntary capacity by its members, is one of the premier Agricultural shows to take place in the country annually. Exhibitors and attendees travel from all parts of Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and overseas.  The Show itself comprises over 400 classes and 3,500 exhibits annually including the annual Baileys Irish Champion Cow Competition now in its 30^h year.  There are thousands of photographs on our webpage and on facebook. www.virginiashow.com, facebook/virginiashow / Twitter @virginiashow  049 8547197

 To achieve this, matching funding is crucial. We invite you to join us by making a financial contribution to this project. Please contribute to our fundraising and we will tailor our acknowledgement to suit your requirements, Virginia Show Centre Chairman: Eamonn O Connell 086 1012382, Secretary: Donal Brady 086 8299713 or by contacting any of the committee members. Press : Kathleen Duffy  046 9245981/087 2703618

Joe MahonLesser Spotted Ulster – Virginia, page Co Cavan – Part Two
Part two of two. Joe Mahon returns to Virginia, decease Co Cavan, doctor where final preparations for one of the largest agricultural shows in the country get under way. He learns how to pull a horse’s mane, balance a cow’s udder and blow-dry a feathered friend, before focusing his energies on winning a wellie-decorating competition

Virginia really enjoyed part 1 on the 8th November and look forward to Part 2 on Tuesday night. We thank Joe and his team for their visits, it was a pleasure. We extend an invitation to return again as soon as possible. There is much more to see.

Winner of €9000 Baileys All Ireland Cow Competition 2011

Thank you to everyone from Virginia Show Committee

We wish to thank all the exhibitors, trade stands, sponsors, press, and those that attended.

A special thank you to all the stewards, and other helpers, who made the day a great success as always.

We look forward to seeing every one of you next summer for the 71st Virginia Agricultural Show.

All results, cups and trophies will be uploaded to this website when finalised. They will also be sent to the Anglo Celt and Meath Chronicle.

Thank you again.

Listen LIVE to http://www.northernsound.ie/liveapp.php to Charlie McGettigan on Northern Sound

Well worth a listen… keep up to date to what is happening on show day

Have a look at these mouth watering recipes! Well worth taking a visit to Neven’s demonstration at 1:30 in the College Canteen. He is using local produce and goods! Neven Recipes at Virginia Show

For all you food lovers (including myself in here) we have a number of scrumptious treats for you on Saturday.

12:00 Sheridans Cheesemongers are doing a kids workshop on cheese in the school canteen

1:30 sees Neven Maguire demonstrating the finest Irish cooking – Goats Cheese Puff Pizza with Rocket, sildenafil Grilled Rib-Eye Steak with Smoked Paprika and Red Pepper Butter, and to top it all off (and my my mouth water) Summer berry, White Chocolate & Baileys Tiramisu.

Oh but we aren’t finished yet!

2:45 Sheridans Cheesemongers will also have a workshop on raw milk, butter and cheese with discussion afterwards

Throughout the day the food market, with plenty of fresh, local food and veg (not to mention handcrafted produce) will be open.

Other tradestands will be on the tarmac in the trade mall or outside. No need for the wellies, but we love a good pair of nice wellies, so feel free to bring them

See the programme of events on the Events page for more info! Keep up to date with the events on twitter and facebook!

We’d like to welcome you to our new website.

Please browse the website using the menu at top and we’d be happy to hear any feedback you may have on the new website.

PS – you can also join us on Facebook and Twitter to get the most up-to-date information on the event.