Thousands enjoy the magic of Castlewellan Show

18 July 2012

STORMONT Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill was one of the hundreds of visitors at last weekend’s 45th Castlewellan Show.

She was taken on a tour of the show grounds at Castlewellan Forest Park by show chairman John Adams and his deputy Michelle McCauley.

The trio were joined by Down Council chairman Mickey Coogan on the visit which profiled excellence across the various classes of sheep, goats, cattle, horses and home industries, with Ms. O’Neill expressing great interest in the food and craft tents, stopping with several exhibitors when she got to taste some of the produce.

The annual show promotes itself as a day out for all the family and this was evident by the numbers of children and young people wandering throughout the field enjoying the many exhibits including falconry, dog agility, small pets, scarecrows, poultry and the Young Farmers’ antics.

The Partisan Theatre Company attracted good crowds for its production of The Field Hospital, a lively and entertaining look at the current realities of rural life. Their show which combined music, song, comedy and drama also engaged some members of the audience who were not shy in getting involved.

Raymond Bready kept things moving with his lively commentary and interviews, acting as a beacon for lost parents, while chefs Jenny Turley and Radio Ulster’s Paula McIntyre provided on-site cookery demonstrations as part of an initiative with the Tourist Board in partnership with Food NI.

These attracted audiences throughout the day and provided a focus in the food tent which also included a wide range of local products from cider to butter.

Outside displays of threshing, traditional bread making, as well as the vintage tractors and Seaforde Vintage Car Club, proved popular with visitors who also got a chance to try out weaving and felt making in the Ulster Wools tent.

The PSNI Community Safety Unit was on site highlighting rural crime and their police branded tractor was a great draw for young and old alike. The Tesco Home Industries tent was packed with over 1,000 entries of baking, jam, chutney, knitting, quilting, crafts, art, photography and schools entries. It had a brisk run of visitors all day once the judging was complete.

Mossvale Riding Club provided the unaffiliated show jumping alongside a broad range of classes across hunters, Clydesdales, donkeys, miniature ponies, hackney driving including the James Armstrong Auctioneers Search for a Young Horse Championship.

Across the animal breeds, the standard this year once again was very high with the Hampshire Down’s hosting a national championship. Castlewellan has the largest sheep entry of any one day show and this year did not disappoint.

Outgoing show secretary Violet Bell, who is retiring after 28 years’ at the helm said it was a great day to finish her tenure on.

She added: “The weather was good, the crowds were fantastic and lots of people came up to tell me how much they were enjoying themselves. For me, that is what it’s all about, profiling the many facets of rural life and families having a good day out.”

Photos of the day can be viewed on www.facebook.com/castlewellanshow as well as www.castlewellanshow.com.

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