Virginia Show turns 80
Show takes place in August.
A key element to the ongoing success of Virginia Show, which is celebrating its 80th event this year is its ever-willing committee, according to show president Owen Brodie.
“We have 200 committee members - a great bunch of people involved in the show. I can ring someone any time with a problem and it will be sorted. Last year we also started a volunteers list with 130 people who aren’t show members but are willing to help on Show Day.”
With longevity comes heritage, and the show still has a significant part to play in an ever-changing community.
“It’s been around a long time and it’s a great part of rural Ireland,” observes Owen. “We’re on the commuter belt of Dublin and we have a lot of new people in the area, who know nothing about farming, so the show is a good way to connect with them and showcase what’s good about farming, and also what’s good about the area. It’s a great institution.”
Modern technology is essential to helping the show keep in touch with and gather new members, says Owen.
“This is my third year as president. It always amazes me the amount of volunteer hours that go into running a show. In the future, it’s going to be a bigger challenge to get people to commit the current amount of time.
“We need to embrace more technology. Every business is being run online so we need to do more things in this area such as having online entries for competitions, and selling tickets online. We’re all going down this road whether we like it or not.
“Young people really respond to this. It’s also safer because there is less cash around and it’s easier for accounts to audit.”
With over 500 competitions set to take place, including some new additions, some revamped ones, and a lot of old favourites, there will be something for everyone on the day.
One such event is the North East Limousin Club’s Mega Moo competition, which Owen explains: “100 tickets will be sold for €100 each prior to the show. Five pedigree limousin heifers and five limousin cross heifers will have been selected from the show on the day by the judges. The 10 heifers will be paraded in the ring and during the parade 10 tickets will be drawn out of the 100 tickets sold.
“The 10 winning ticket holders will enter the ring and a second draw will take place, where a 10th to 2nd prize will get €100 prize or more. The 1st prize winning ticket holder will then pick his or her Mega Moo Champion Heifer out of the 10 heifers . The ticket holder takes this heifer as the prize and the breeder and/or owner of the heifer then receives a cheque €5,000.”
Among the old favourite competitions will be the famous annual Diageo Bailey cow competition; the Caraross Mart €5000 champion heifer; and the Liffey Meats €2,000 beef animal.
There will also be keenly contested arts, crafts, and home industries sections, as well as fruit and veg growing.