Dundalk Show open for entries
2024 Dundalk Show takes place at Bellurgan Park on Sunday 9 June
With less than three weeks to go, entries are being sought for the 2024 Dundalk Show taking place at Bellurgan Park on Sunday June 9th. The Show is a great family day out with something for everyone.
Dundalk Show has always endeavoured to help bridge the urban/rural divide and has described itself as the essential "Shop Window" for everything that is produced locally. There will be many attractions on the day including Classes for different sections where prizes and much coveted Rosettes can be won.
This year, major attention will be focused on the Sheep Section. Dundalk Show will hold the biggest Sheep event for 2024. Bellurgan Park was the venue for the recent launch of the National Sheep Breeders Association in partnership with Zurich Farm Insurance “Crossbred All Ireland Finals".
These particular finals boasts a massive prize fund of €3,500 with separate All Ireland classes covering Crossbred Aged Ewe, Crossbred Butchers Lamb, Crossbred Factory Lamb, Crossbred Breeding Ewe and Crossbred Shearling Ewe. Prize money for these classes are as follows, 1st €200, 2nd €100, 3rd €75, 4th €50, 5th €40 and 6th €25. The overall Crossbred All Ireland Champion receives €500 and the Reserve will get €300.
The National Sheep Breeders Association again in partnership with Zurich Farm Insurance also announced a class for “Crossbred All Ireland Young Stock/Show Person Under 20 Years of Age” which will be held on the day.
There will also be All Ireland Finals for Texel, Suffolk, Cheviot, Charolais and also Mule. The Sheep section will hold the "North East Lleyn Championship" and classes will also be held for Vendeen, Bluefaced Leicester, Rouge, Lanark Type Blackface Mountain, Swaledale, Roughfell, Perth Type Blackface Mountain and Young Handlers.
The Cattle Section attracts a lot of attention and caters for the usual pedigree Simmental, Angus, Limousin, Hereford, Belgian Blue and Charolais breeds. There are also Commercial classes, Breeding Heifer, Highland Cattle, Breeder's Choice Traditional 4* or 5* Breeding Heifer and Young Handlers.
The Cattle section will host the "All Ireland Pedigree Suckler Type Heifer Championship" and "The All Ireland Senior Young Stockperson Championship 2024". Excitement builds up when the Overall Champion of the Show is announced, completing the Cattle section.
The Horse Section covers Clear Round Jumping, Riding Horses, Young Horses, Connemara Ponies, Pony Open and Novice Riding, Racehorse to Riding Horses and Riding School classes. There are two Qualifiers in the Horse Section: "The Yearling Filly All Ireland Qualifier" and "The Connemara Three Year Old Filly All Ireland Qualifier.
For those who love their Poultry, this is a popular section of the Show with classes covering Large Birds, Bantams, Water Fowl, Hybrids, Rare Breeds, Young Handlers and Eggs. The Dog Section caters for Large and Small dogs, Pedigrees, Rescue Dogs, Family Dogs, Traditional Breeds, Best Groomed and a Qualifier: "The All Ireland Irish Native Breed Dog Championship".
Children are well catered for in the various classes covering Arts and Crafts, Gardening, Baking, Handwriting and LEGO. Dundalk Show will host a Qualifier in the Children's section which is the "All Ireland Junior Craft Championship".
The popular Home Industries section covers Crafts, Baking and Preserves, Crochet, Knitting, Woodwork, Photography, Art, Horticulture covering Plants and Vegetables and Floral Art.
The Home Industries section also has two Qualifiers: "The All Ireland Home Preserves Championship" and All Ireland Bread Baking Championship". There is a section for ICA members only where they can showcase their various talents through various classes as well as celebrating 70 years of memories at An-Grianan.
There will be many Trade Stands, children's attractions including a Magician, Fun Fair, Bee Display, Louth Barn Owls, Vintage Displays, a Food Village and live music with the Ardee Concert Band, Dundalk Ukulele Strummers and following a very successful performance last year, the one and only Johnny Brady will again be taking to the stage providing a great finish to what hopefully will be an excellent day.
Classes can be entered at www.dundalkshow.com Friday May 25th is the closing date for all entries in the Children, Home Industries and Horticulture Sections either online or by contacting [email protected] The Show number is 086-2503113. Entries in these sections must be brought to the Show on Saturday June 8th before 12 noon.