€65,000 in prize money at 72nd Bonniconlon Agricultural Show
In this article, a spokesperson for Bonniconlon Agricultural & Gymkhana Show, tells us about this year’s event which takes place on its dedicated 200ac site in Co Mayo on Monday, August 7th, 2023, and boasts a prize fund of €65,000.
Based in north Mayo, Bonniconlon is a quintessential rural village on the outskirts of Ballina – a hospitable locality which opens its doors to over 30,000 people each year for the one-day show event.
Famed for the bank holiday showcase, members of each annual show committee have worked tirelessly to develop and expand its award-winning programme which since 2008, is held on 200 acres of specially-developed showgrounds.
With free parking and free shuttle buses from parks to show, Bonniconlon Agricultural Show & Gymkhana has a jam-packed programme and prides itself on offering something of interest to both young and old.
Our show, now in its 72nd year, is more than just an exhibition of livestock, farm produce, trade stands and jumping – it is a family-orientated event which coincides with the August holiday period to bring exiles and migratory workers back together – and in doing so, has become a calendar staple throughout the west of Ireland and beyond.
This year the show will be opened by TV personality, Mary Kennedy and will feature a host of events for all the family including a variety of kids’ entertainment and disco plus the FMX Ireland Stunt Show extravaganza.
There will be live music on the field all day including Mike Denver, Thomas McBride, and The Tumbling Paddies, closed out with Declan Nerney at the show dance in the evening.
Sheep and goats
We have over 100 sheep classes including Swaledale & Rouge de l’Ouest breeds for the first time.
Returning this year are the Irish Valais Blacknose Society hosting one of their four provincial shows with us alongside a huge arrange of other breeds including dedicated classes for Cheviot, Lleyn, Hampshire Down, Charollais, Belclare, Suffolk, Texel, Bleu Du Maine, Beltex, Blue Texel, Zwartbles, Jacob and of course our Ox Mountain sheep.
We have 14 goat classes from best milker to best farm goat and boers to pygmies. We are looking forward to an impressive turnout in the goat section for 2023.
Cattle, poultry, horses & ponies
We have an equally impressive lineup in the cattle section with new classes such as the traditional 4* and 5* breeding heifer plus 2 unhaltered cow and calf championships, baby beef and all ireland junior and senior calf championships all boasting huge prize funds up to €1,800!
We have pedigree classes for Shorthorn, Simmental, Belgian Blue, Charolais, Limousin and Angus including their All-Ireland Bull Calf Championship qualifier, Tread Na hEireann and All Ireland Junior Stockperson qualifier on the day.
Our poultry section will include around 40 classes with All Ireland finals and All Ireland qualifiers for the True and Rare Bantam Breeding Pair Chickens and the Soft Feather Heavy Breeding Pair Chickens.
There will be all our usual much-loved horse, pony & gymkhana competitions including the All-Ireland 3-year-old Registered Irish Draught Filly Championship and the A. Browne Filly Foal All Ireland qualifier.
Our much-loved dog section will be back taking entries on the day with classes for a huge selection of breeds including the Dog Safe Fence Connacht Championship final!
With all this plus around 200 classes in the produce, horticulture, flowers, cookery, junior, arts and crafts section there really will be something for everyone!
Entry fee will be €15 per adult and national school children go free plus free park and ride services all day.
