TULLAMORE, Co Offaly, lived up to the claim of John Dolan chairman of Offaly County Council, yesterday that the town was "the agricultural capital of Ireland" when he spoke at the opening of the local show.
Over 40,000 people converged on the Charleville Estate on the edge of Tullamore for the annual show which now incorporates the Powers Gold Label National Livestock Show which used to take place in the RDS.
There were over 1,000 of the best cattle in the country entered in the event which was now according to the Irish Shows Association, the largest single day event in its calendar.
And while the Irish Farmers Association claimed last week that the national herd had been devalued by £1 billion there was no air of depression at the showgrounds yesterday.
There was, however, a lot of bitterness from some of the breeders of heavier continental breed cattle at the show over the remarks of the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Yates, last week that farmers could no longer continue to breed cattle like "elephants".
A walk around the showgrounds yesterday would have depressed him as there were certainly rhino sized bulls and bullocks aplenty competing for the £64,000 in prize money.
Beef farmers would need the prizes, according to the Irish Cattle and Stockowners Association, which used the occasion to illustrate the pre BSE and post BSE price of a prime bullock, a margin of nearly £250.
Powers has put in £80,000, as the main sponsor, and there are 230 other sponsors, mainly from the local community.
Results: All Ireland Pedigree Shorthorn Heifer in Milk: J and N Faulkner, Virginia, Co Cavan; 2, Donie McKeown, Enniscrone, Co Sligo.
All Ireland Junior Simmental Heifer Championship: John Connaughton, Dysart, Mullingar, Co Westmeath. 2, Alex Ross, Drumlish, Co Longford.
All Ireland Simmental Heifer Championship 2 year old: Oliver Connelly, Cloughan, Co Offaly. 2, P and M O'Connell, Mallow, Co Cork.
All Ireland Charolais Heifer of the Year: Dr A.J.F.O'Reilly, Castlemartin Stud. (2) do.
All Ireland Pure Bred Limousin Heifer Championship: William Smith, Oldcastle, Co Meath; 2, Rodger McCarrick.
All Ireland Hereford Bull: E McKiernan, Drogheda, Co Louth; 2, J.J. Farrell, Trillick Co Longford.
The Supreme Champion of the Show was a Charolais Bull shown by Dr Tony Ryan of Limerick and the Reserve Champion was shown by Dr A.J.F. O'Reilly.