A young man with his heart set on Virginia Show
Gearoid Fitzpatrick is one of the young bloods among the organisers of one of Ireland’s most prestigious agricultural shows. A member of the Trade Stand Committee for this year’s Virginia Show the 23 year old had no hesitation in taking on the volunteer role as he was carrying on a family tradition.
Gearoid is a qualified electrician and linesman with ESB Networks, and rears Hereford and beef cattle on the family farm in Mountnugent.
All that aside, the Virginia Show is about family for Gearoid having been first introduced to it as a toddler by his late grandfather, Séan Farrelly.
“My grandad was big into the Virginia Show and involved in it for as long as I can remember,” he told The Anglo-Celt. “In fact we used to be in and out of the Show with him when we were kids. He was President of the Virginia Show for a number of years.
“Unfortunately, he passed away last year but from the moment we could walk, we were in and out of the Show with him. He was passionate about the Virginia Show and was always organising and getting things ready ahead of it.
“All his life, he was on the gates; it was his job to take in money and welcome people in. I was always giving him a hand with what needed to be done and helping out as best I could. It’s just nice to be in there.”
As such the Virginia Show holds deep ties and family connections for Gearoid.
“It means an awful lot to me and my family - aunts, uncles, cousins; the whole lot of us; nearly all the Farrelly clan goes to it. It’s like a bit of a reunion for our family.”
Beef
Elsewhere, Gearoid’s roots are in farming where the family rear Hereford and beef cattle at their home in Mountnugent. In the past, some of those animals have made it onto centre stage at the Virginia Show, but not as much these days as the local man alludes to.
“They're out in the field at the moment and are happy enough,” he smiles before pointing to how his life has changed over the last couple of years.
“With working full time, farming and my involvement behind the scenes at Virginia Show, there’s little time left to enter the cattle these days. It’ll be about taking charge now with the trade stands on the morning of the Show; ensuring they are where they are meant to be; marking out the space needed; and directing those involved to where they are to be stationed.
“That takes a lot of time to sort out and will probably take until close to dinner time on show day to sort out.”
Craic
Gearoid is also anxious to recruit more young people into the Show’s Committee. Asked what he would say to someone considering volunteering he suggests they should "come in and get a feel for what’s going on"
“See things for themselves. Whatever bit of time they can give, come in and give it, and have a great bit of craic along the way. People can help out in areas they are interested in; we would never put anyone into a job that they don’t like doing. People can do something that they like doing and that will attract them back the following year.
“I was always interested in the cattle side of things and through my involvement in that, I got immersed in the trade stands. Wherever your interests lie, that’s where you’ll be placed.
“When people enjoy doing what they’re doing, it’s half the battle. When you have different people doing different things, they’re more interested and end up putting a lot of thought, effort and time into the role.”
Weight
Gearoid has also taken charge of the very popular Guess the Weight of the Animal at this year’s show. It’s an event he has always been interested in.
“The Guess the Weight of the Animal is something that could be pushed more and advertised; you could have a lovely animal in the mix that would attract a lot of people and hopefully get more money in for whatever cause we choose.
“There was nobody in the running to take it over this year so I said I'd do it because I’m on the Trade Stand Committee. It’s a good fit with that role; I can set up an area for it while I’m doing my other jobs. I’m hoping it’s going to go well because it is my first year doing it, but I’m sure it will work out.”
He added: “I love the Virginia Show; I look forward to it every year. I’ll be heading to Electric Picnic this year and it’s just a few days before the Show so I’ll be rushing back up the road on the Monday morning so that I’ll have a good run on the Monday and Tuesday before the Show kicks off. “We’ll be hell bent organising so we will.”