113 years old and still going strong

RECOGNISED as one of the most diverse agricultural shows to take place in the county, plans are already at an advanced stage to host this year’s Mountbellew Show which takes place in September.

The show is now in its 113th year and the organisers are already endeavouring to make it one of the biggest events in the country, as a whole host of new attractions have been added – in their continuing efforts to attract even larger attendances.

It was originally started back in 1904 by the Franciscan Brothers and for several decades was run as a ‘purely’ agricultural show that was designed solely for the farming community in the North Galway area.

But as the years and the decades went on – and similar to many agricultural shows of its kind – it gradually began to ‘spread its wings’ and diversified into other areas like home baking, arts and crafts, a much anticipated fashion show and in recent years a children’s arts competition, which is well supported by the local schools.

“Agricultural shows could not be geared specifically towards the farming community as they simply would not survive,” observed former TD Paul Connaughton (senior) who has been associated with Mountbellew Agricultural Show for several decades.

He said: “It now has to be all inclusive and that is why we strive to introduce new and different elements to the show each year.

“You just cannot take your foot off the pedal when it comes to shows like this.”

The show, which the Grattan Bellew clan were also deeply involved in the early days, in the past had been held in Bannerton’s Field on the Moylough Road, where there is now a housing development, before eventually ending up in its present location on the grounds of the Franciscan College.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.