Sheaf throwers, racing donkeys and Tipp hurlers thrill the crowd at Clonmel Show

The Clonmel Show certainly finished on a high note with a thrilling Donkey Derby that ended in a near photo finish followed a half hour later by a loud cheer lifting the showgrounds as the final whistle blew in the All-Ireland hurling semi-final.

The latter spectacle may not have been played out physically in Powerstown Park but was watched avidly on an outdoor big screen and on screens in the racecourse bar by hundreds of people attending the Show who were overjoyed when Tipp emerged victorious in the game’s closing minutes.

The Show organisers pulled out all the stops to ensure visitors didn’t miss the big match and ably fitted the Donkey Derby during half-time at Croke Park.

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The Derby was just as action-packed and hair-raising as the hurling in Dublin.

Retired jockey Shane Crosse from Cahir was the overall winner, coming from behind at the last minute to narrowly nudge ahead of second place Darragh Davis.

The warm but not too sunny weather conditions were ideal for the Show. A period of soft rain around lunchtime didn’t unduly disrupt enjoyment of the event.

Clonmel Show PRO Victor Quinlan said as expected visitor numbers were back a bit due to the clash with the All-Ireland Hurling Semi-Final. He said many people came earlier to the Show and started to leave just before 3pm to be back home in time for the match.

Tánaiste Simon Harris chats with a garda during his walkabout at the Clonmel Show flanked by Cllr John Fitzgerald, Michael Murphy TD and Tipperary County Council Leas-Cathaoirleach Cllr Mark Fitzgerald who is sporting a colourful Hawaiian style Tipperary top. John D. Kelly 

Tanáiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade & Defence Simon Harris was the Show’s most high profile visitor.

He did a whistle stop tour of the showgrounds in the morning accompanied by Clonmel Fine Gael TD Michael Murphy, Leas-Cathaoirleach of Tipperary County Council Cllr Mark Fitzgerald and other local Fine Gael councillors.

The Nationalist caught up with him at the busy Cattle Show section. He said he was delighted to be attending his first Clonmel Show and saw it as an opportunity to meet and speak to the public and find out the issues on their minds.

While the All-Ireland hurling semi-final was obviously the top issue for many he met, he reported the future of the Nitrates Derogation was raised with him by farmers on his walkabout.

“That is a big, big issue and we are obviously determined to work to retain that Nitrates Derogation.”

He had also spoken to local food suppliers and noted it was very encouraging to see many of them at the Show.

“I think that is one of the great things about our agricultural shows, they are a chance to showcase and support local produce,” he said.

The Tánaiste paid tribute to the Show’s organisers for the massive work they put into staging an event of this scale.
That huge effort was plain to see throughout Powerstown Park on Sunday.

There were competitions and events to suit every age and taste from the traditional cattle, sheep, pony, horse, goat and poultry classes to showjumping, a dog show and pet show, flower arranging, vegetables, fruit, baking, arts and crafts classes as well as a wide range of trade stands.

Cattle getting a wash before judging at the Clonmel Show. Photo John D. Kelly 

Mr Quinlan reported a massive increase of 38 new horse and pony show classes bringing the total number of competitions to 108.

Part of this increase was in Connemara pony show classes. He explained the Government is promoting Connemara ponies and Clonmel was one of four agricultural shows in the country chosen to host show classes for this breed with the Department of Agriculture funding the prize money.

The Thoroughbred Broodmare Class with a €4,500 prize fund, was won by Maurice O’Brien from county Cork. The Supreme Ridden Hunter Champion of the Show was owned by Amanda Benson from Gowran, Kilkenny.
Supreme Pony Champion of the Show was owned by Emily Widger from Waterford while Margaret Greene won the Clonmel Show Pony Champion title.

Another notable winner in the pony and horse classes was Joe Burke from Galway whose pony qualified for the Horse of the Year Show.

The Show’s most prestigious showjumping competition, the Munster Grand Prix with a €5,000 prize fund, attracted an impressive 30 riders and was won by Jason Higgins from Enniscorthy, county Wexford.

Clonmel Show has one of the biggest sheep competitions in the country with 108 classes covering 16 breeds of sheep. The NSBA Inter-Breed Sheep of the Show was owned by Damien Davoren from county Clare.

The 57 Cattle classes were also hotly contested with local breeder Michael Sheehan from Carrick-on-Suir winning the Supreme Beef Champion of the Show. The Supreme Dairy Champion title was won by John and Padraig Murphy from county Kilkenny.

The Martins and grandchildren enjoying the Clonmel Show

There were also a huge variety of children’s entertainment from bouncy castles to funfair rides, a pet show and Junction Festival circus acts.

A little pig running free around the pet show delighted the many kids that visited the area.

The novelty competitions ranging from an international fencing contest to tractor driving skills and sheaf throwing were a big hit with visitors.

This was the first year sheaf throwing was featured in the Show and was enjoyed by a large crowd of spectators. Mr Quinlan said he witnessed one contestant tossing the sheaf a massive 55 feet over the bar.

This report and two pages of photographic coverage of the Clonmel Show are published in this week's edition of The Nationalist now on sale in local shops. 

Check out all the results from Clonmel Show on www.clonmelshow.ie 

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