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CASTLEBLAYNEY SHOW

WE’RE READY TO GO FOR 2025

BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY 4^th AUGUST 2025

The Castleblayney Show takes place on Bank Holiday Monday 4^th August 2025.  There is so much to see and do at the Castleblayney Show Day and lots of new ideas and plans for 2025 as well as many popular and new attractions.

The Castleblayney Show was officially launched  Friday night 30^th May in the fabulous Concra Woods.  We had a great attendance and we are very grateful to all our sponsors, colleagues from other shows including Tydavnet, Dundalk, Lurgan, Clogher Valley, Newry and Nobber, councillors, distinguished guests.

David Montgomery chairman of the Castleblayney Show welcomed everyone to the launch and thanked everyone for their support.  A few apologies were read out.  David reminisced about the first Castleblayney Show in 1957 and to the great people involved over the years to enable the show to grow from strength to strength showcasing everything agricultural.  We appreciate all our sponsors without whom we couldn’t run the show.  We also thank the huge number of Exhibitors that attend the show.  It’s a great day for our show and a great day for everyone that attends.  It takes a lot to run a show and without the support of our ministers we would be unable to continue to grow our show.  We thank all the ministers over the years that have provided funding to all agricultural shows, and we thank the ISA (Irish Shows Association) for all their support.

We have the best showgrounds in Ireland and the Castleblayney Show wouldn’t be where it is today without the generosity of Jimmy and Sheila McShane.  The Castleblayney Show takes place on their grounds and car parking also.  We thank the many neighbours in Blackhill for their support also.  It is very much appreciated. It takes a lot of work to put the Show Schedule together and I want to thank Martha, Janet and Beth for all their hard work making sure the schedule was ready.

I want to take this opportunity to congratulate our show secretary Martha Montgomery and her fiancé Paddy on their engagement and wish them well for their wedding day later this year. 

David called on our first speaker James McKee from Fane Valley.  He spoke on behalf of the sponsors.  James grew up with agriculture shows and they are part of our culture.  It’s an opportunity to showcase what farmers do.  He wished the show well.

David Hall from the IFA was our next speaker.  He wished the show well for 2025.  He has attended a few shows including Castleblayney Show.  A lot of work goes on in the background to make the show successful.  Hopefully the weather is good.  Best of luck to the Castleblayney Show and he encourages everyone to support the show. David Montgomery thanked David from the IFA for attending as Tom Treanor was to attend but hasn’t been in good health for the past few months.  David sends our best wishes to Tom.

David invited Mary Rafferty, IHFA National President to say a few words.  Mary is a native of Tydavnet and has been recently elected.  We congratulate her on her election.  She’s from a very active club and they do a lot of fundraising and charity activities.   Networking and learning are very important to club members.  Mary remembers all the phone calls made by Pat Lappin (Castleblayney Show) many years ago to encourage people to join the club and support shows.  He was successful in his many efforts.  The club has grown so much over the years.  Mary would like to invite everyone to an Open Day on 10^th July on the farm of Padraig Greenan.  She thanked the Castleblayney Show for inviting her to their launch and wished us well for our Show Day. David Montgomery thanked Mary for coming and congratulated her on her presidency.  Next up David invited Jim Harrison, National Secretary, Irish Shows Association to say a few words.

Jim thanked David for the opportunity to speak.  Jim has already attended a few launches and shows.  Harold Hill said to Jim years ago one day that he had a job for him at the show.  He handed him a load of books and told him to go down and sort out the cattle.  That’s how Jim got involved in the shows.  We have lost a few really good show people over the past few years and most recently Paddy McGeough.  The show is celebrating 68 years this year and it’s thanks to all these stalwart show people including that the Castleblayney Show is where it is today. The ISA has had a few “Think Tank” meetings lately and the two things that keep coming up as issues for shows is 1) Volunteers and 2) Funding.  As many of you know it is very hard to get volunteers.  It is very important for shows to go and personally ask people to help out at the shows.  You will achieve more by asking someone face to face.  Funding – Jim thanked all the sponsors.  It is very important to thank all your sponsors.  Without our sponsors we couldn’t have shows.  Michael Ring was the first minister to provide money to shows - €1,000,000 between 125 shows.  Pat the cope Gallagher spoke highly of the funding the ISA was giving shows.  Negotiations start now for next year’s shows.

There is a new programme called the Changemaker programmed (Peace Plus Funding Programme).  It is where a show in the north of Ireland links up with a show across the border in the south.  There was a meeting a few weeks ago and there was a great attendance and a great interest.  Jim wished the Castleblayney Show all the best and hope you have a great and successful day. David thanked Jim and invited Aidan Campbell to say a few words.  Aidan spoke about his dad Leo Campbell and involvement in agricultural shows.  The Campbell family were brought up going to shows.  Aidan still supports the agricultural shows and also lends a hand on show day.  Aidan has been announcing all the activities on the show field each year at the Castleblayney Show for the past few years. 

In relation to volunteers, people don’t want to give up their time but you have to keep trying to get volunteers.  A credit to all the sponsors for their support to the shows.  Congratulations to Mary Rafferty on her presidency of the IHFA.  Hope the show gets great weather and best wishes for a successful day.

Our secretary Martha Montgomery spoke about the work and dedication that goes in to organising the Castleblayney Show.  She thanked especially David Montgomery for all his hard work and for looking after the whole Castleblayney Show team.  He has been chairperson for most of the last 10 years and has been involved in the Castleblayney Show for nearly 50 years, Martha officially launched the Castleblayney Show for 2025. 

Finally, David thank Michael and all the staff at Concra Woods for their hospitality and fabulous food and thanks again to our many sponsors and wished everyone safe home.

Castleblayney Show 2025 has a wide variety of competition classes.  CLASSES include:   Horses, Ponies, Donkeys, Cattle, Sheep, Goats, Poultry, Dogs, Home Industries (including The All Ireland Home Bread Baking Championship), Farm Produce, Horticulture, Art, Needlework, Crafts, Photography, Adults with additional needs, Residents of Nursing Homes / Residential Care facilities, Teen Scene, and the Children’s section.  If any of the schools have entries to be collected please contact our chief steward Doreen or the show office to arrange collection of these entries.  Otherwise they can be left in the show office or on the show field. SIDE SHOWS include: Indoor and Outdoor Trade Stands, Food Village, Vintage Display, Childrens Entertainment, Little Mr Farmer and Little Miss Farmerette, Bonny Baby, Pets Corner, the very popular Junior Tractor Run, plus lots more on the day.  Plenty of things to do for all the family.  More details to follow.  Get your creative ideas ready.