Tullamore Show forging ahead with plans for August
A balanced mix of new blood and energy, combined with knowledge and experience, sums up the new Tullamore Show committee, who are forging ahead and planning for August 8 on the Butterfield Estate in Blueball.
Following on from an AGM on Tuesday night, Geashill’s Chelsey Cox has taken over as Tullamore Show secretary from Freda Kinnarney, who stepped down in December after 23 years at the helm, while Joseph Molloy from Leamore has taken up the chair from Breda Kiernan who remains on as vice-chair.
“It’s going to be an unusual year, but all we can do is be up and ready to face the challenges ahead,” the new chairperson said.
“It’s early yet but we have to be positive and within the next six weeks to two months, hopefully we’ll have a better insight as to what is happening.
“We’re planning ahead to be able to run a show in August. We’ll be taking all the advice from the relevant bodies to see what form the show will take, whether it’s just a livestock show as opposed to a full show, but we will be abiding by the restrictions whatever they may be.”
Mr Molloy, a dairy farmer by trade, has been involved with the show for the last 11 years, and says the committee should have a better view of how things stand by March.
“A livestock show is not something that you can organise overnight, so it’s important to plan ahead, and it’s also good to have something for people to look forward to and to try and return to some form of normality.”
Hailing from a sheep farm in Geashill, Chelsey Cox has also been involved with Tullamore Show for a number of years now, and is looking forward to the challenges the year ahead presents.
“We’re taking a positive approach to the months ahead. We know Covid is still very much a factor, but we’re planning ahead for the show in August and keeping an eye on NPHET guidelines as they progress throughout the year,” says the AIT first class honours business graduate, is also studying through distance learning at Gurteen College.
“We’re also working closely with the Irish Shows Association (ISA), we’ll be communicating with them constantly in the months ahead as they will be taking direct advice from the government.
“Obviously with the roll-out of the vaccine it has given us extra hope that things will improve as the year progresses, so we’ll keep working away until such time as a decision has to be made in time for August and we’ll take it from there.”