Another fantastic show last Wednesday, pills for our 74th Agricultural Show. Thanks to everyone on another successful Virginia Agricultural Show we must thank everyone who came to the show.

To our fantastic trade stands-the standard and quality is unbeatable. To our sponsors, none of this would happen without your support. To our exhibitors, a show would definitely not be a show without your amazing entries, the standard of which cannot be surpassed. To our visitors who come hail, rain or shine to see the best of what rural Ireland has to offer year after year. And finally, a huge huge huge thank you to our fantastic show committee and helpers that make the show the warm welcoming event that it is.

Roll on the 75th Virginia Agricultural Show next August! Check out all the results in the Anglo Celt this Wednesday.

Virginia Show Overall Winners 2015

The Show Committee are delighted to publish the timetable and the map to help you plan for the 74th Virginia Show. Download a copy here: Virginia Show A4 Programme 13.08.15 and Showgrounds 2015 Map Scroll down for more!

We are delighted to have our Dairy Conference back for the third year. Our dairy conference is the chance to get information from experts while attending a real agricultural show. For full info click Dairy Conference 2015

So many things to do at the 73rd Virginia Show. Have a read through our feature to learn about our main events.

Virginia Show Feature 2014

Virginia Show  Wednesday 20 August

In its 73^rd year, order there is only one direction all traffic will be heading on Wednesday 20^th of August, Virginia Show is in everyone’s diary, and you, your family, exhibitors and visitors from the four corners of Ireland and beyond are cordially invited to come to Virginia for their Annual Virginia Show. 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 gets underway 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 meet the people who set the high standards of the Irish dairy, beef, and sheep industries.

Have you seen it yet?

It’s finally finished, the brand new purpose built Events Centre is at long last ready to open its doors for visitors. Committee members are already taking bookings for the new Show Events Centre, small and large meeting rooms, amazing multipurpose Hall and a new Rolls Royce of kitchens can cater for all your needs. Booking can be made through   virginiashowcentre@gmail.com and this year it will showcase a number of events including the Diageo Baileys Irish Champion Dairy Cow Competition and the Dairy Conference.

42580_Bailey entry 2013

Please see Press Release below:

Download PDF

Virginia Show 21st August 2013

Professor Patrick Wall, more about Associate Professor of Public Health in University College Dublin’s School of Public Health and Population Sciences, and Chairman of Horse sports Ireland launched the 72nd Virginia Show at a reception in the Park Hotel Virginia. He commended the committee on their annual show and their “Can do” attitudes and the need to “rev the thing up for ourselves”. He spoke about Irish agriculture and agri food and the quality needed to differentiate our products and the produce of other countries and that the rising tide can lift all hope. We need to look at confidence, which is key, especially to future farming as a business, which we need to operate on the global stage. We underestimate how much we know about farming. He spoke about the toxic negativity in Ireland at present, so we need to be positive. He also suggested we need to be competitive because of economy of scale on the global market. He spoke about creativity as we undersell Ireland when we take everyday images for granted such as cows on grassland, so we need to market better packages. On co-operation, Professor Wall suggested we need we need to work together, farmers, and processors as Team Ireland. He also spoke about credit and the need to get cash flowing again. He commended the Virginia Agricultural Show as a renowned event with visitors from all over Ireland travelling to Cavan each August. The show promotes all that is good in rural Ireland; it has expanded from its agricultural base, to hold an interest for all family members both rural and urban.

Annual highlights in the cattle section

Wednesday 21st will bring crowds to the Show Arena, where the highlights of the day this year will include the 30th annual Diageo Baileys Champion €10,000 Dairy Cow Competition, 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 and the young Stockperson will also continue in each section.

New to this year’s Show

This year of “The Gathering” we are bringing people from UK, Wales, Holland and further a field to join us on Show Day. We have invited many farmers to our hot spot seminar in Virginia College at 10.30 am on “Modern Irish Dairy farming – best practice” “The National experience of pasture based systems” with guest speakers Bertie Troy, Grasstec, talking about “Efficient Farming Infrastructure for modern Irish systems “ , Andrew Cromie, ICBF, talking about “The role of Genetics in the modern dairy cow” , and Joe Patton Teagasc, talking about “Feed and nutrition of dairy cows”. This will be followed by questions and answers session.

In the evening: after a day of observing almost 500 classes and food demonstrations by renowned Chef Neven Maguire and Sheridan’s Cheesemongers, we plan music, craic and food, Carnival style!! to celebrate the Gathering

Beside cattle, we also have the All Ireland Final Art Competition again and Fleetwood Paints are kindly sponsoring this, Supervalu Virginia are also sponsoring the ICA Guild Skills of the Year again and this year it is based on the Seasons of the Year. The Home Industries section has a new Pastry Tray competition sponsored by the Riverfront Bar & Restaurant.

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 and The All-Ireland Gun Dog Championship

Horses & Ponies

Among the classes are Brood mare, light and coloured horses, ridden hunter and cob, Heavy horses, palomino horses and ponies, Welsh and Connemara as well as the miniature horses and donkeys. We will once again feature a competition for retired racehorses that will be ridden and will compete over jumps. This year we have a new trophy in the Horse section presented by his family, in memory of our recently deceased member Wilkie Lyttle RIP.

Cattle

There are dairy and beef classes for all cattle. These include the usual Holstein Friesians dairy classes and new classes this year for non Friesian dairy breeds. We also have commercial classes, continental, Herefords, Aberdeen Angus, Charalois, Limousin, Salers, Simmentals, Belgian Blues, Blonde D’Aquitaine, and Parthenaise.

Other Classes

There will be classes for Sheep, including the Paddy Keoghan Cup for Pedigrees and the Hugh Faulkner Cup for crossbreds as well as Suffolks, Texels, Charalois, and Vendeen. It is hoped to have a sheepdog trials display. There are also classes for Goats, Poultry, Farm & Garden Produce, Oats Barley, Turf, Hay, Grazing, Maize.
Home Industries, Arts & Crafts

This sections includes classes for Fruit & Flowers, Home industries, Craftwork, Hand writing, short stories, poetry, paintings, photography, confined sections to Active Age Groups and Children. The Dog and pets are not forgotten. The 50th anniversary of the visit of JFK will be remembered when one of our committee presents his memorabilia.

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

Trade Stands play an integral part of the Show and there is always a waiting list to get space which is limited. There will a “Local Business Centre” alongside the Business Trade Stands.

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.
Why don’t you join us this year, enter a class, take a trade Stand, Sponsor a class or bring a group up to Cavan on August 21st and visit the Killarney of the North and join with us in celebration of The Gathering.
ENQUIRIES for Trade stands and exhibitors TO 049-8547197 Mobile Michael 086 3847544

E-mail: virginiashow@eircom.net
Webpage www.virginiashow.com

Kathleen Duffy
Press Officer
Virginia Show Society
087 2703618
046 9245981
E-mail kathleenduffy@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