Show bands and Show success

As the Virginia Agricultural Show chimes in its 80th year in operation, many wonder how such an event could still be performing so well all these years later.

Some would put it down to luck, others to money, but for the retired president of the Virginia Show Society, the show’s success is down to the people who created it and their determination throughout the years to make it a success.

“We have to talk about the legacy the show has left after it,” says John as he gathers decades of memories together in his mind.

Since day one, John commended the show on its inclusivity.

“It was 1942, the war was on and obviously there was a lot of animosity at the time towards other religions - the Catholic Church were trying to rule the roost all the time. But, if you look at the show society, it’s amazing the amount of non-Catholics that are on it,” he remarked.

The Murmod native expressed his opinion that, while the country was predominantly run by Catholics, the protestants often proved the better farmers.

“The show was set up first to improve the lot of the farmer, so that he would improve his stock and his crops. The protestant farmers then and, even yet, are the top-class farmers and the Show Society was not going to go ahead unless all those were included.”

The first two shows were held on the present Ramor Club pitch before moving to the official showgrounds in 1944.

“They bought the show grounds off Elliotts and, as far as I know, it was £600 at the time,” recalled John.

“Within three years, the farmers’ hall was opened. Talk about being a progressive committee,” he continued, relaying the story by heart.

At this point the society decided a school needed to be built to stop the issue of youth emigration. However, having written multiple letters to the Department of Education, which refused to undertake the project, society members took matters into their own hands.

“Eight members of the Show Society guaranteed to the bank the £20,000 it cost to build the school. The Department in Cavan kitted out the school. They gave £5,000,” revealed John.

Putting it into perspective to the people of today, John explained an acre of land cost on average €100 then, and €10,000 now.

“That guarantee would be the equivalent of €2 million [in today’s terms],” he suggested.

While he commended those eight men, John also explained how much the Virginia townspeople aided the show’s success.

A “satellite dance” was set up and held in different halls throughout the county to help fundraise.

This is 1945, the war is closing up and the Virginia people had lamps in the shops and they brought these out to the countryside for these dances that were being run.

The money raised went to building the farmers’ hall, which would go on to hold dances that fully funded the show.

“That ballroom was the cash cow. The carnival, and I’m sorry to say I’m old enough to remember it, was on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday nights. That would go on for six weeks and you could buy a ticket, it could be ten or 12 shillings for a dance.

“There were nights in Virginia when there were 800 to 1,200 people in that hall at dances.

“It had big names in it like Brendan Boyers, The Big Eight, Joe Dolan, I was at the Dubliners in it myself, they all played in it in the ‘70s. It paid the bills. Nobody worried about the cost of the show because they knew the money would be back in again before the end of October. The show losses would be paid for out of the dance hall!”

However, as hotels and discos were introduced throughout the county, the popularity of the dances waned.

“With the demise of the dancing, the show then had to start looking for sponsorship.

“Only for the show sponsors, there would be no show. Shows by their very nature do not make money. The sponsors and trade stands are a big part of the Virginia Show,” explained John.

The highlight of the show itself back then was the show jumping, which would take place at 2pm and carry on for three to four hours.

“Before the Baileys [cow competition] came, the show jumping was a massive occasion in Virginia and, at the time, the whole Irish Show jumping team used to show jump in Virginia - Eddie Macken, Paul Darragh, James Kiernan and Captain Con Power,” reminisced John.

However, as indoor show jumping increased in popularity, the riders’ interest in the show diminished and, after 40 years in operation, the society sought greener pastures.

“Ned Duffy and I were at an Irish Show Society meeting in the Bloomfield House in Mullingar in 1982 and they waffled all day about horses at the top table. I remember going up to a guy called Lesley Rawson who was the chairman of the Irish Show Association and I said to him ‘If we can get the sponsorship for a cow, will we get the final?’

He declined, explaining the final rotated around the country at the time.

“‘Well in that case’, I said, ‘it’s not happening because, if we get the money, we will have to have the final!’”

John and Ned then approached Brendan Smyth, who worked in Virginia Milk Products, now known as Tírlán.

They explained their plan and asked for €1,000 sponsorship for the Best Cow in Ireland.

“I can still see Brendan smiling, he loved the idea of it.”

Baileys was first produced in 1974, which worked out in the Society’s favour.

“It was only a few years before they were after cracking it that the whiskey and the cream could be mixed. So, the cream was coming up the road here from beside us and we wanted to get in on the act, and Brendan put it to the management in Virginia and they took it up with Baileys and it has never looked back.

“Brendan Smyth’s contribution to it for the last 40 years was immense. He was the co-ordinator of the Baileys and gave it a lot of time,” praised John.

John also explained the marquees played an important role in the show, housing the catering, the “grain tent” and, of course, the bar.

Two men were responsible for erecting the marquees - Patsy Denning and Cornelius Clarke.

“The marquees would be put up on the Sunday morning before the show and not a rope or a peg would be put in the ground before those two engineers arrived on site and we would be home at 2 o’clock.”

In the early 2000s, the Show Centre was built and has since become a “wonderful addition” to the community.

A state-of-the-art basketball court was introduced last year for the East Cavan Eagles who have chalked up huge victories in recent times.

“It’s their Croke Park. Last year, there were games with over 500 people in the Show Centre. I was down at some of them myself,” revealed John, beaming at the development.

Reverting his attention back to the Show itself, John continued: “The Show Hall, it’s the jewel of it all. I know the Baileys and the livestock people think they’re the kings and queens.”

However, outside of the select few families that take part in the livestock competitions, John points out that the majority of people take part in the produce and industry competitions held in the Show Hall.

“When you go down to the hall, you light the fuse to keep young people interested in the shows. You start them off there with the art and the handwriting and the decorating of the wellies and the egg and the wildflowers and that’s what gets kids interested in shows,” explained John.

Having reeled in the years over the course of a 15-minute conversation, John waded through fond memories, funny tales and the names of many who had worked hard to keep the Virginia Agricultural Show a success for the first 80 years, and he looks forward to the next 80 years and beyond.