COUNTDOWN TO NEWCASTLE WEST SHOW

Pictured at the launch of Newcastle West Show 2015 were Peter Leonard, Chairperson of Show committee, Patrick O'Donovan TD, Dan Neville TD, Ella Geary on her pony Ted, Tom Hayes, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Seamus Shanahan, Show Secretary and Claire Geary, committee member on Friday last in Newcastle West.

Pictured at the launch of Newcastle West Show 2015 were Peter Leonard, Chairperson of Show committee, Patrick O’Donovan TD, Dan Neville TD, Ella Geary on her pony Ted, Tom Hayes, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Seamus Shanahan, Show Secretary and Claire Geary, committee member on Friday last in Newcastle West.

The countdown is on to one of the marquee events on the West Limerick calendar, Newcastle West Show which this year will be held on Sunday 19th July.

The Show was founded by the business and farming communities in the early 1920s and started off in the grounds of Castle Demesne.

In recent years, the Show moved to its current loca-tion at the farm of Terence Leonard at Ballynoe about six miles outside Newcastle West on the R520 (Bruff Line).

Over 4,000 attended the Show in 2014 and the organising committee have revealed some of the attractions that will be on show at this year’s event on July 19th.

A new competition at the Show is an RDS Qualifier for Loose Performance Class for three year olds. This is a Potential Event Horse Competition with the final being held in the RDS with a prize fund in the final of €80,000.

The All Ireland Donkey Derby Final with €2,000 prize fund, which was previously held in Sligo, is another attraction, as is the Connolly Red Mills Munster Grand Prix with a €2,000 prize fund.

There will be a variety of horse and pony classes including showjumping, working hunter, side saddle etc, cattle classes, pet corner; dog show, terrier racing and much more.

A Food Village with live entertainment including dancing area will be in the showgrounds as well as a family fun area with bouncy castles and enter-tainers.

There will be the usual array of trade stands and another important attrac-tion is the Primary Schools Art Competition with over-all prize of a family trip to Tayto Park plus other prizes.