Old favourites and new popular events for Arva Show

Youth is helping to drive the continued success of Arva Show. The popular Agricultural Show is once again all set for this August Bank Holiday Sunday at the farm of Ms Philomena Fyfe with all the usual attractions lined up, and a few old favourites making a return.

Of course the cattle, horses/ponies and sheep sections have attracted large numbers of entries and will have the public trying to figure out which animal is deserving of the red rosette. In the cattle section the organisers were delighted by the success of a class which debuted at last year’s Show - the ‘Lakelands Daires All Ireland Dairy Bred Beef’. The category was inspired by the Dairy Beef Scheme run by the Department.

“We saw that no other show had a class to incentivise the good quality in dairy beef, so we introduced a class for that and have a prize fund of €1,000 sponsored by Lakeland Dairies,” said Secretary Alannah Finnegan. “We got on very well with it last year, so we’re hoping to see a good showing in it.”

The poultry section makes its eagerly anticipated return after a few year’s hiatus.

“We said we’d reintroduce it this year - it’s a good spectcle and people enjoy seeing the different breeds,” said the show secretary.

Meanwhile the volume of entries that the home industries section at Arva attracts is the envy of many other ag shows.

“We have a really strong home industry section which would set us apart. We’d be very proud of the entries we have in that,” says Alannah, who started off her Arva Show journey volunteering as a steward along with her sisters in the home industries section.

Outside of agriculture and home industries, there is plenty to entertain all the family.

“This year we have a magic show for children, and facepainting and an arts area in one of our crafts tents. Birds of Prey are back too after two or three years away.”

While entries for most of the competitive classes have already closed, a few fun events can be entered on the day.

“There’s the Dog Show and the Most Appropriately Dressed Lady and Gent, and there’s the Bonny Baby,” explained Alannah.

Arva Show for the last three years has coincided with All Ireland Sunday, and of course football fans will still have the chance to catch Armagh and Galway’s clash for Sam on the giant screen.

“We saw it as a challenge and an opportunity the first year and got a big outdoor screen to watch the final on, so even despite the weather last year, lots of people sat down to watch the football and stayed around until 5pm. Usually the field might clear out a little earlier than that - so it helped keep the crowd around and helps creates a bit of an atmosphere and is something to talk about.”

And to round off Sunday the Show Dance will see Johnny Brady take centre stage at the Breffni Arms Hotel, Arva that night.

While the sign of a good show can be how effortless it all seems to those attending, it only comes together on the day due to the tireless work of the Show Committee and volunteers over months. Arva Show is unusual in its committee’s age profile.

“We have probably the most youth members of a show of anywhere in Ireland,” enthuses Alannah, who at 26 must be one of the youngest secretaries in the country.

“We have very strong youth membership, and they are very involved as well - our PROs are youth members and our animal welfare officers are youth members as well.”

Alannah estimates that 40-50% of Arva Show Society members attending meetings are aged under 25; and similarly with volunteers on the day.

Like many shows, the society which this year marks its 65th anniversary, has numerous family ties going back generations. For example, Alannah Finnegan who was reared on a beef and sheep farm but describes herself as “a standing in gaps kind of farmer” is a niece of the current chairperson Jim Finnegan. To strengthen those ties, in 2016 they approached families of those who had a connection to the Show and received a great response.

“The secret of success is going out and asking young people: can they help? Young people are very happy to help out once they are asked.

“They did send letters to families in the community and let them know about Arva Show and asked them if they wanted to get involved.”

Having introduced young blood into the society, it has generated a virtuous circle.

“When there’s a group of young people there already, it’s more encouragement for the rest to get involved.

“There’s the fun side to it as well - we have our volunteers’ barbecue after the Show so people can unwind.”

Alannah was eager to thank the sponsors of the various competitions, and also the support from Minister Heather Humphreys and the Department of Rural and Community Development through Our Rural Future funding.

“This makes a big difference to us and allows us to progress the show towards more sustainable initiatives,” she said.

The organisers are focussed for now on ensuring that the 65th Arva Show is even better than the 64 shows that went before it. With everything arranged now, all that’s needed is a spot of sunshine.

“In 2022 we thought the weather was bad, but in 2023 we learned that it could get worse, so we are due a good one this year,” says Alannah.