‘WE'RE hoping that the weather will be kind on show day and, most of all we hope all our sponsors, exhibitors, members and public will enjoy a memorable day out on Thursday, July 18th, at Carbery Show in Skibbereen,
‘WE’RE hoping that the weather will be kind on show day and, most of all we hope all our sponsors, exhibitors, members and public will enjoy a memorable day out on Thursday, July 18th, at Carbery Show in Skibbereen,’ said show secretary Yvonne O’Regan.
She was speaking at a reception hosted by Carbery Show Society in the West Cork Hotel, Skibbereen, to announce details of this year’s show.
Following its success over the past 13 years, the Foal Championship, confined to first and second prizewinners of the foal classes at Carbery Show and sponsored by Ardtech Industries, Drimoleague, be held again.
Once again, Allied Irish Bank and Bank of Ireland sponsor the two major Cork County Championship Finals, the Cork County Yearling Gelding and Filly Championship and the Cork County Beef Bull Championship, respectively. Qualifiers for these finals have been selected at all the other Cork County Shows.
Blackwater Motors, Skibbereen, are the sponsors of Irish Draught Mare & Foal Class and the Pat Cahalane Memorial Cup is given to the winner of this class. The Hayes Family, formerly from Kilnahera, Drimoleague, sponsors the trophy for the Irish Draught Mare Class class, and Sean Casey of Bantry Tyre Centre sponsors the prize money; he also sponsors the one and two-year-old gelding-filly class.
Drinagh Co-Op, FBD Insurance and Skibbereen Credit Union sponsor various cattle classes. Carbery Milk Products, Ballineen, are sponsors of the Carbery Group Dairy Class, for a group of three female dairy animals exhibited by one owner.
Carbery Show stages the following qualifiers: Bantry Show three-year-old filly; Mountbellew Traditional Irish Sport Horse Foal; Limerick Show Irish Draught two-year-old filly; Bantry Show Irish Draught Foal Munster Championship and the All-Ireland Donkey Mare Championship, final at Ballinasloe Show.
This year, there will be a carriage driving competition, which includes classes for open driving for the John O’Sullivan Memorial Cup and intermediate driving class for the Patrick Barry Waterfall Memorial Cup.
Speaking at the launch, Yvonne O’Regan thanked all the generous sponsors who support the show every year, saying ‘We make every effort to advertise our sponsors through our prize list, show catalogue, press advertising and acknowledging them through the public address system on show day. We are extremely grateful for the positive press coverage.’
Carbery Show Society continues to encourage home produce through its large indoor exhibition, which includes the horticulture section, flowers and flower arranging classes, with Carbery Flower and Garden Club sponsoring some of the classes for flower arranging, and the photography section, which is sponsored by Fields SuperValu.
In the horticultural section, there’s a qualifier for the Moate Onion Championship. Eleanor Calnan sponsors the Carrigmacross lace class. John O’Regan, Castlehaven, sponsors the majority of the cookery classes, with some other cookery classes being sponsored by Jim Seymour Jewellers and O’Leary’s Jewellers, all from Skibbereen.
Carbery Show includes many classes for children, such as ridden and led pony classes, a junior cattle section, junior horticulture classes, the junior crafts, and junior cookery classes with special trophies presented by Mrs Mary O’Driscoll for exhibitors with the most points in the junior cookery and junior arts and crafts sections.
After the success of the Best Dressed Lady and Best Dressed Gent competition over the past two years, we are this year changing the formula a bit, and holding a Mother & Daughter, Father & Son, Granny & Granddaughter, Grandfather & Grandson Lookalike competition on Show Day.
This year, as usual, the West Carbery Hunt will be putting on a display of their hounds during the afternoon and this has proved to be a popular addition to the show in the afternoon.
Immensely popular is the Pet Dog Show, which is a non-pedigree show, and is this year being sponsored by Ardtech Industries, Drimoleague, and Castlelands Veterinary Clinic, Skibbereen, sponsor Best Dog in Show Skibbereen. They are also holding qualifiers for the the Puppy Parlour Kenmare Munster Dog Championship for small and large Dogs; Beltra Show Gun Dog Championship and the Clonaslee Show Gain All-Ireland Championship for small and large dog.
Skibbereen Show is also noted for its marvelous trade stand display. It also has a children’s amusements section and the popular mobile pet farm is attending too.
The Ladies’ Committee runs a restaurant on show day, which is a popular meeting place for people attending the show to meet up with old friends and have lunch and a cup of tea.
In a big to encourage more entries to the show, its website was updated recently and information about all the show’s competitions can be obtained from it.
