TULLAMORE SHOW became a political cockpit yesterday with the arrival at one event of all four declared presidential candidates. They were there to meet and greet the 60,000 people who support the major agricultural event.
While they made no mistakes, one major political blunder was perpetrated: the absence of the Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney.
The non-appearance was being widely commented on – not, mind you, by the show’s organisers, but by the public and farmers who said they felt snubbed at this, the most major agricultural event outside the National Ploughing Championships.
Back in April, the young Cork Minister had accepted an invitation to open the show, which cost nearly €1 million to stage and attracted the top livestock breeders from the island.
But three weeks ago, he told the show’s committee that he had another commitment and could not be here.
Instead, he sent Minister of State Shane McEntee, who performed the honours but, as someone sarcastically remarked, it was like sending a boy on a man’s job.
The Northerners did not miss a trick.
Northern Minister for Agriculture Michelle O’Neill was there resplendent in her green wellies as would befit any Sinn Féiner on any green field.
With 650 trade stands, almost 1,900 livestock competing for more than 40 national prizes, and 1,000 horses, there was plenty for farmer and non-farmer alike to see.
There were playgrounds for the children and all forms of farm machinery for the public to admire.
The crowds stood seven-deep around the showrings watching the judging of the animals. A huge crowd watched hundreds of dogs of all breeds in competition for rosettes.
The move to a new 250-acre site also facilitated a major improvement in traffic flow.
Travel to the site, with its 20,000 adjoining carpark spaces, took less than 20 minutes from Tullamore, 4km away.
The gardaí had put in place a one-way traffic system where motorists came off the Tullamore bypass, and this worked very well on the day.
The organisers are sticking to the show’s traditional date of the second Sunday in August – and last night began preparations for next year’s event which they say will be bigger and better than the 2011 show.