A spokesperson for Strokestown Agricultural Show, tells www.thatsfarming.com readers about its forthcoming 155th annual event.
With the success of last year’s show, we are continuing with a one-day show event this year on Saturday, September 9th, 2023, on the grounds of Strokestown Park House.
As always, we extend our appreciation to the Callery Family for hosting us in what is a beautiful setting for a show.
This year, we have put all events held over two days in previous years into one day, so we have a very full programme for spectators for just a €15 gate entry fee.
In the cattle section, we have:
- The €6,000 Sweeney Family All-Ireland Beef Bullock Final;
- The €3,000 Greenvale Animal Feeds All-Ireland Beef Heifer Final;
- The €2,000 Sweeney Family Breeding Heifer class sponsored by the Sweeney Family (Corrigeen);
- The €12,000 Angus Finals;
- The Irish Simmental All-Ireland Finals;
- The Irish Shorthorn Premium Beef Bull Championship sponsored by Shorthorn Marketing Company Ltd – Prize Fund €1,200.
We also have pedigree Charolais, Limousin & Hereford classes and the Breeders’ Choice, Traditional 4* or 5* Breeding Heifer sponsored by the Department of Agriculture and Minister Charlie McConalogue.
We have four All-Ireland calf classes, sponsored by Hanly’s Hardware and SPAR Supermarket with €1,600 prize fund.
The champion calf of the show will receive €200 with the reserve to pocket €100.
Horses, ponies and a dog show
The horse show will take centre stage on the day with 17 classes, including Tom Rogers Irish Draught Class with a prize fund of €500.
We have classes for Half-bred mare, yearlings, two and three-year-olds – all to be shown in hand.
The highlight of the Horse Show is the Strokestown Park Irish Draught Broodmare All-Ireland Championship with Foal at Foot.
1st Prize – €6,000; 2nd – €3,000; 3rd – €1,500; 4th €700; 5th – €500; 6th – €300.
This class and the one, two and three-year-old Draught Fillys are sponsored by Jim Callery & Family by a handsome €17,000.
We have 20 pony classes. The Registered Connemara Pony Section is sponsored by Tony & Blaithin Stevenson by €1,000, allowing us to offer a prize fund of €200 per class.
We have a spectacular dog show with 23 classes and champion and reserve with a prize fund of over €1,000.
Sheep
Our sheep section looks to be as big as ever with classes in commercial, Suffolk, Texel, and Charollais. This year, we are also delighted to include a new class for best pedigree ewe lamb (any breed other than Suffolk, Texel or Charollais). To celebrate our native farming industry, we will also have our very own Roscommon sheep breed on display.
We have marquees for farm & garden produce, flowers, turf, adult & junior cookery, honey, eggs, jam, adult & junior handcrafts, amateur photography, and adult & junior art.
Flavours from the Heart of Ireland again this year with chef Edward Hayden of Virgin Media’s Ireland AM, along with Adrian Gill and Daniel Willinmont.
We are also delighted to welcome Emma and Pat from Red Bank Cocktails, and Lorraine, the Baking Goddess.
There will be commercial stands also including machinery, etc.
Joining us again this year is the Mid-Roscommon Vintage Club with cars and machinery that will be working on the day. Lovely for the younger visitors to see how things were done 50 years ago and indeed older people can reminiscence.
There will be amusements for our younger people also. All-in-all, a full day with something for everyone for an entry fee of just €15, with kids free.
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