They were huddled together, sheltering against the rain. Long, leggy creatures, coiffed, preened and beautiful to behold. They gazed out with imperious disdain at the passers-by. These are highly-strung animals. Many in the business call them supermodels. Not the sort who often grace these pages, but stunning nonetheless. "Yeah, we're preparing them for the catwalk," says Denis O'Neill from Antrim, before racing off to brush the hide of a black and white Holstein Friesian. Each cow is shaved, shampooed and blow-dried in readiness for the judging. Talcum powder is often sprinkled over their udders to create a certain desired effect.
David Hutton-Bury, owner of the Charleville Estate which hosted this year's National Livestock and Tullamore Show for the eighth year, paid tribute to the stamina and commitment of the workers who prepare the animals.
Throughout the day the voice of Carrie Acheson, one of the Barlows from Clonmel and a founding member and board director of the Barlo Group, booms over the public address as if from on high. Hers is the voice which generally reigns over the All-Ireland Ploughing Championships but "I am honoured and privileged at being asked here," she says.
Before the event opens officially, a secret competition is discovered to be in progress. Hidden away in one marquee, Brian Cowen, the Minister for Health, alongside Ned O'Keeffe, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food, and various other movers and shakers (some moving faster than others, it must be added) took part in a whiskey tasting session, organised by Power's Gold Label, the main sponsors of the show. O'Keeffe was deemed to be the best judge of whiskey and, with the glow of one who has tasted victory, he predicted that Cork would win the match that day in Croke Park.
Torn between the match and the Tullamore Show, Cowen admits that "it's always a wrench . . . but we have to try and get around everywhere", before the two of them dashed off for the semi-final between Cork and Offaly. Christy May, PRO of the show and owner of the newly-opened Bridge House Hotel, has no such split loyalties. He's there for the duration.
Faith Amond, from Carlow, a transport manager with a beef and lamb slaughtering company, has no intention of leaving either. Injecting glamour into the proceedings, she tramps through three fields to take part in the best dressed lady competition. "I love the bit of style," she says as she beat off eight other contestants to take the title. "It's so far removed from my job." She wore a cream-coloured trouser suit that "I have about four years but with the rain and the low shoes I thought it would be good".
The best-dressed traditional farmers were not as fussed about what they wore. Michael Byrne, a 75-year-old entrant from Channonrock, Co Louth, holding a blackthorn stick and sporting a trilby, a smart tweed jacket and pair of grey trousers, is one such farmer. "Wouldn't you know by the cut of me?"
The winner was out to change the "traditional image", Paul Sheeran (19), from Clonaslee, Co Laois, was wearing white trainers, grey slacks and a white anorak. "It's about time farmers got a new, modern look - you don't have to be old and in boots to be a farmer." Also in attendance was Tullamore business man John Flanagan, owner of the Tullamore Court Hotel. He could have run away with the Best Dressed Offaly Man title if he'd chosen to enter, but he preferred to rest on his laurels after a successful visit by a trade delegation to his hotel recently to link the midland town with Buffalo, New York.