Minister Coughlan announces support for shows
The Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan T.D., today announced that she will provide support for the running of Agricultural Shows throughout the country. The support, which amounts to ?70,000 this year, will be made available through the Irish Shows Association (ISA), the umbrella body for show societies to which some 135 bodies are affiliated. The funding is aimed primarily at reducing the contribution which each show makes to the public liability insurance fund operated by the ISA and will, therefore, reduce the running costs of all shows affiliated to the ISA.
The Minister believes that Agricultural Shows play an important role within the farming sector generally in improving the quality of farm animals and in providing a showcase for artisan foods at local level. These shows are also a valuable traditional social outlet for the rural community, both farmers and other rural dwellers. The Minister also acknowledged the amount of work which voluntary show committees put into the running of agricultural shows. In order to increase the involvement of young people in the running of shows, part of the funding will be used to assist the ISA in introducing courses for the training of young people to become future exhibitors, stewards or junior judges.
13 April, 2007
Date Released: 13 April 2007
