The Royal Meath Show promises fun for all the family in Trim this Sunday, with thousands expected to travel across the country to the Royal County. 

Organisers of the Royal Meath Show encouraged all to attend, promising a day with something for everyone. 

“This is the 84th Royal Meath Show, the first was held in 1929,” chairperson Francis Cotter told the Irish Independent. 

“Our secretary Eileen Redpath is the daughter of the show’s original secretary, it’s hard to believe we’re approaching almost 100 years,” Mr Cotter said. 

The show will bring together agricultural competitions, vintage machinery displays, arts and crafts, trade stalls, food and baking competitions, talks and demonstrations.  

There will also be entertainment for children and live music from Matt and Paul Leavy and Pat and Susan Murray. 

“We’re one of few agricultural shows that also feature goats, we expect to have around 30,” Mr Cotter told us. 

“We have a seriously brilliant committee. Maureen Dillon organises 350 to 400 horses entered which is amazing for a one-day event. We will be hosting a side-saddle competition, with a judge coming from England,” the chairperson explained. 

“We have around 100 helpers and people to give us a hand on the Thursday ahead of the show. Local farmers will give up their time for four hours to help us get the heavy work done,” he said. 

“The cattle All-Ireland championships will take place in Junior, Intermediate and Senior Stock Judging, it will be a massive competition with participants from north, south, east and west,” he said. 

Up to sixteen guilds within the Irish Countrywomen’s Association (ICA) will be in attendance at the show, competing across twelve classes. 

Almost a full year of organisation goes into the preparation of the Royal Meath Show, with Mr Cotter attributing its success to Trim’s strong community spirit. 

“I’m from outside of Trim, most people give out about their towns, I’ve always said it’s one of the best towns in the world,” he laughed. 

“The amount of sponsors in the town – from local people to businesses and farmers, they all give a few pound. Raymond Heffernan is brilliant for collecting sponsorships,” Mr Cotter praised. 

“We try to bring in as many animals in as possible. At the end of the show, we put five cattle of each breed together into the ring, it’s spectacular to see. In our poultry competition we have over 150 hens entered,” he said. 

The Meath man spoke of the importance in keeping agricultural shows alive, in a country that he believes is losing touch with its rural countryside. 

“I got involved twenty years ago, and I have been the chairperson for ten years All along, the main thing has been, ‘how can we get more people in’,” Mr Cotter said. 

“People say that the break from country life to townie life has widened and widened. People don’t even know what the leaf of a potato looks like, or the leaf of a carrot. A lot of young people wouldn’t have seen animals like goats or pigs in person,” he said. 

The Royal Meath Show’s artisan food tent will feature the best of local produce, including goods from Daisy cottage farm, Wildwood Vinegar, A Bit on the Side, Mushroom and Love, Drogheda Honey, The Muffin man, Rose Ellen Cordials, The Coffee Beanery, The Milk Stand and Moran’s Jam.  

Live cookery demonstrations will take place by Ciarán from Moran’s Jam and Lorraine from Daisy Cottage Farm. 

The artisan craft tent will also feature trade stands from Quilts by Sarah, The Erin Soup Company, Pink Fluff Creations, The Erin Soap Co., Frayne Woodcraft, Leona Fay Wood turning, Crannagh Craft Designs, Francis McDonnell Art, JC Wood, Claddy Pottery, Bridget’s Mantle, Kathleen McCormack Baskets, Teresa ‘s Craft and Kinmare Mead. 

Hudson’s Fun Fair will be there on the day, with plenty of exhilarating funfair rides for the little ones in attendance. 

Mr Cotter wished to thank the show’s judges and exhibitors, travelling from the north and south of Ireland to attend. 

The committee also wished to thank Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht Dara Calleary for the Department’s sponsorship of the event. 

“We’re lucky the Minister was able to donate money to the agricultural shows, we have to compliment him on his support, particularly with the rising costs. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to have it,” Mr Cotter finished. 

The Royal Meath Show will take place on Sunday, September 6 at Porch Fields, Blackfriary (2nd Division), Trim, Co. Meath. 

For more information, see the show’s Facebook page.