€1m announced to support 122 agricultural shows

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, has today (Friday, March 22) announced an investment of €1 million to support 122 agricultural shows right across the country.

As part of the funding commitment, each show will receive a grant of €6,000-11,000 depending on their size.

This is aimed at supporting each committee to prepare for the upcoming show season, which takes place over the summer months.

The funding brings the total allocated to agricultural shows since 2018 to over €4.3 million, according to Minster Humphreys’ department. 

Agricultural shows

The minister made the announcement as she launched the 2024 Yearbook for Irish Shows’ Association (ISA).

Announcing the funding, Minister Humphreys said: “Our agricultural shows play a vital role in community life and raise awareness of the important role agriculture plays in our society.

“These shows are the threads that build bridges between our towns and villages, and the hinterlands that support them.

“They act as a platform for local producers to showcase their products and have become a key date in the calendar for the farming community.

“Our shows sum up all that is good about country life and I’m delighted to support them, once again, through this substantial investment,” the minister added.

Funding

According to the department, this year’s €1 million allocation builds on the “record” allocation of €1 million made in 2023 towards agricultural shows.

The Department of Rural and Community Development will work with the ISA to administer the scheme for 2024.

The department, together with ISA, are encouraging participating shows to be more environmentally aware in delivering their shows.

Initiatives in the areas of waste management, responsible printing, use of single use plastics, and appropriate traffic management should all be considered with a view to showcasing best practice in the area of event management and becoming more sustainable.

The minister continued: “I would like to acknowledge the ongoing efforts of the show committees, volunteers, sponsors, local businesses and local organisations that play a role in each of these shows. The shows would just not happen without their support.

“I hope to attend a number of the shows around the country this year. Finally, I would encourage everyone to go along to their local show – you will be surprised with all that the agricultural shows have to offer.”

The funding provided to each show is available in the table below.