There's no business like show business!

Agricultural shows have been a large part of the social calendar of rural Ireland for years and nowhere more than in Co. Cavan. And in 2009, at last week's 52nd annual Arva Show, it seemed little has changed in this regard since the 50s as agricultural shows appear popular as ever. As I drove into Arva, I encountered the rare sight of a Limousin cow grazing at the side of the road. One young man was keeping hold of the cow, while he chatted to another. The scene was in stark contrast to the setting on the opposite side of the Main Street - the new state-of-the-art Brady's garage (the main sponsors of the show, coincidentally). Had I not been on my way to the agricultural show and known what was going on, I would have been baffled at the sight - something you might see on a postcard from Ireland. But it set the tone nicely for the afternoon's experience ahead. You might have guessed, I'm not from a farming background - this is the girl who broadcast the sale of sentimental bullocks and responded to a farmer who called the newsroom to tell me his sheep were worried at the weekend: What were they worried about?, I wondered! Mind you, there were a few worried looking sheep at the Arva show as judges made their final decisions. But seriously, the event showcased many of the things that are positive about country living, from rearing livestock to the best cakes, bread, buns, spuds, even sods of turf. Then there were the crafts embroidery, handwriting, photography, flower arranging and the more abstract such as best picture made from pasta or best edible necklace! Farmers were in their element standing around chatting about cattle, the weather and the proposed farming cutbacks and closure of REPS4 to new entrants. Despite a showery morning, the clouds cleared in the afternoon for a good spell of sunshine and the crowds turned out - all of those on the agri-show circuit but also families from Arva and the surrounding area. The children loved the animals, especially the dogs and ponies and there was a real fun, family atmosphere around. And for those who had worked up a thirst, there was even a bar tent to retreat to. Record entries With some 4,000 entries and hundreds of classes from pedigree animals to home crafts and industries, the show's chairman, Michael Dobson, said entries were up significantly in nearly all categories, making it one of the biggest and most popular shows in years. The qualifiers at the show were for the Connemara Pony Gelding All-Ireland Championship, the Leitrim Irish Draught Breeders Championship, the Nissan Irish Draught Colt Foal Championship; the All-Ireland Suckler Heifer Championship, the Non-Pedigree Suckler Cow and Calf All-Ireland Championship and the Bord Bia All-Ireland Quality Potato Championship. "Given the weather, we were happy and quite surprised by the crowd. We were happy with the entries and the standard of entries," said Mr. Dobson. Numbers in the home industries and home and garden sections were up by a quarter, a sign of the times, according to Mr. Dobson, as people have more time on their hands and many are growing vegetables and baking at home. Commenting on the standard of entries, Mr. Dobson said the judges commented that 'you wouldn't see as good anywhere else'. The standard was particularly high in the cattle and horse section, he said, as people have more time to get animals ready for entry to the show. Mr. Dobson thanked all of those who helped organise and run the show. The other committee members were: Raymond Brady, vice-chairman; Brian Cully and David Doyle, joint secretaries; Paddy Francis Mulligan, treasurer; Eileen Cully, PRO; Jim Finnegan, safety officer and Paddy Joe Brady, chief steward. All celebrated the success of the show at the show dance in the Breffni Arms on Sunday night with entertainment by Noel Cassidy. RESULTS Supreme Champion: Joe McGarry, Caldra, Co. Longford. Cobs and Ponies Champion: Allison Rountree, Canningstown, Cootehill. Reserve: Kathleen Shanley, Bailieboro. Class 1: 1st Kathleen Sheridan, Bailieboro. Class 2: 1st Collette Gilchrist, Ballinalee, Co. Longford. Class 3: 1st Liam O'Connor, Caherconnell, Abbeyfeale, Co. Limerick. Class 4: 1st Christiane Donohoe-Kaufmann, Moyne, Co. Longford; 2nd Caroline Mee, Ballinalee, Co. Longford; 3rd Imelda Morrissey, Shercock. Class 5: 1st Susan Mee, Ballinalee, Co. Longford; 2nd Imelda Morrissey, Shercock. Class 6: 1st Allison Rountree, Canningstown, Cootehill; 2nd Paul McGuinness, Mohill, Co. Leitrim; 3rd Rachel Smith, Bailieboro. Class 7: 1st Eugene and Marcella Matthews, Toome, Kilcogy, Co. Longford. Class 8: 1st Paul Moffatt, Gowna. Class 9: 1st Liam O'Connor, Caherconnell, Abbeyfeale, Co. Limerick. Class 10: 1st Paul Moffatt, Gowna. Class 11: 1st Susan O'Neill, Ballinalee, Co. Longford. Class 12: 1st Mrs. C. Hotson, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon. Class 13: 1st Susan O'Neill, Ballinalee, Co. Longford; 2nd Joanne Austin, Ardee, Co. Louth; 3rd Rachel Smith, Bailieboro. Class 14: 1st Killian Tubman, Belturbet; 2nd and 3rd Cathal Duignan, Cornafean. Class 15: 1st Cathal Duignan. Class 16: No entries. Class 17: 1st Helen Coxon, Bailieboro. Horses Champion: James Duffy, ballaghadereen, Co. Mayo. Reserve: Michael Brady, Belturbet. Class 18: 1st Rebecca Ebbit, Belturbet. Class 19: 1st James Duffy, Ballaghadereen, Co. Mayo. Class 20: 1st Michael Dooner, Glassan, Co. Westmeath; 2nd Pat Carty, Athlone, Co. Westmeath; 3rd John Joe Reilly, Granard. Class 21: 1st John Joe Reilly. Class 22: 1st Sean Kiernan, Ballinalack, Co. Westmeath Class 23: 1st John Dunne, Belturbet. Class 24: 1st James Duffy, Ballaghadereen, Co. Mayo; 2nd John Dunne; 3rd Rebecca Ebbitt, Belturbet. Class 25: 1st Michael Dooner, Glassan, Co. Westmeath; 2nd John Joe Reilly, Granard. Class 26: 1st Peter McGivney, Dring, Co. Longford; 2nd Bart Nannery, Granard. Class 27: Not ran. Class 28: 1st Michael Brady, Belturbet. Class 29: 1st Peter McGivney, Dring, Co. Longford. Class 30: 1st Aisling Clarke, Crosserlough Trekking Centre; 2nd Francie Fitzpatrick, Crosskeys. Class 31: 1st Tom Comiskey, Behey, Arva. Class 32: 1st Alison Rountree, Canningstown, Cootehill; 2nd Aisling Clarke, Crosserlough Trekking Centre; 3rd Alfie Dennany, Farrangarve, Arva. Pedigree Hereford Champion: J.J Farrel, Trillick, Co. Longford. Reserve: Sean McKiernan, Corlismore. Class 33: 1st I. and J. Anderson, Derrylane, Killeshandra. Class 34: 1st Sean McKiernan, Corlismore. Class 35: 1st J.J. Farrell; 2nd Coote Geelan, Carrick On Shannon, Co.Leitrim; 3rd Sean McKiernan, Corlismore. Class 36 1st Nigel Heatrick, Glaslough, Co.Monaghan; 2nd I. and J. Anderson. Class 37: 1st Sean McKiernan, Corlismore. Class 38: 1st I. and J. Anderson. Pedigree Charolais Champion: Thomas Farrell, Aughnacliffe, Co. Longford. Reserve: Martin Clyne, Coolarty, Co. Longford. Class 39: Not ran. Class 40: 1st Martin Clyne, Coolarty, Co. Longford. Class 41: 1st Thomas Farrell, Aughnacliffe, Co. Longford. Class 42: 1st Martin Tiernan, Aughavas, Co. Leitrim. Class 43: 1st Thomas Farrell; 2nd Basil Bothwell, Killeshandra. Class 44: 1st Basil Bothwell. Class 45: 1st Martin Tiernan. Pedigree Simmental Champion & reserve: Joe McGarry, Caldragh, Co. Longford. Class 46: 1st Frank Heslin, Aughnacliffe, Co. Longford. Classes 47, 48 & 49: 1st Joe McGarry. Pedigree Belgian Blue Champion: Thomas Mc Kiernan, Ballinagh. Reserve: William Smith, Oldcastle. Classes 50 & 51: 1st Thomas McKiernan, Ballinagh. Pedigree Limousin Champion and reserve: William Smith, Oldcastle, Co. Meath. Class 52: 1st William Smith; 2nd Victoria Kells, Killeshandra. Class 53: 1st Connell Brothers, Oldcastle, Co. Meath; 2nd Basil Bothwell, Killeshandra. Class 54: 1st Stanley and Mark Richardson. Class 55: 1st Patrick Farrell. Class 56: 1st Stanley and Mark Richardson; 2nd William Smith. Pedigree Aberdeen Angus Champion & reserve: Pat Cahill, Shankill Lower. Class 57: 1st Mack Crowe, Mohill, Co. Leitrim. Class 58: 1st Pat Cahill. Class 59: 1st Patrick Farrell, Carrick On Shannon, Co.Leitrim. Class 60 1st Pat Cahill. Pedigree Shorthorn Champion: Noel Dowd Reserve: Noel & Patrick Brady Classes 61, 62 & 63: 1st Noel Dowd, Creegs, Co. Galway. Pedigree Friesian Champion: Jerome Smith, Kilnaleck. Reserve: Kathleen Shanley, Mountainlodge. Pedigree Champion: Joe McGarry, Caldra, Co. Longford. Class 64: Not ran. Class 65: 1st Jerome Smith, Kilnaleck; 2nd Kathleen Shanley, Mountainlodge. Class 66: 1st Kathleen Shanley. Class 67: 1st Val O'Reilly, Butlersbridge; 2nd Noel Kiernan, Carrigallen, Co. Leitrim; 3rd Jack Cooney, Bailieboro. Non-pedigree cattle Champion: Ivan White, Bailieboro. Reserve: Patrick Prior, Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim. Class 68: 1st George Hegarty, Longford; 2nd James Brady, Dring, Co. Longford; 3rd Tomas McQuade, Virginia. Class 69: 1st Donal McGowan, Drumlish, Co. Longford; 2nd John Daly, Main St, Arva. Class 70: 1st Derek Ormiston, Stradone; 2nd Noel Kiernan, Carrigallen, Co. Leitrim. Class 71: 1st T. J. Treanor, Mountainlodge, Co. ; 2nd Connell Brothers, Oldcastle, Co. Meath. Class 72: 1st Ivan White. Class 73: 1st Paul McVeigh, Newtownforbes, Co. Longford. The champion of classes 73 and 73, Ivan White, received the Pat Maguire Memorial Cup. Class 74: No entries. Class 75: 1st Paul McVeigh, Newtownforbes, Co. Longford; 2nd Derek Ormiston, Stradone. Class 76: 1st George Price, Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim; 2nd John Daly, Main St, Arva; 3rd Tomas McQuade, Virginia. Class 77: 1st Derek Ormiston, Stradone. Class 78: 1st Conor Craig, Longford. Class 79: 1st George Price, Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim; 2nd John Daly. Pedigree sheep Champion: James Reilly, Granard. Reserve: Bernard Casey, Drumlish, Co. Longford. Class 80: 1st James Reilly. Class 81: 1st Robert Porter. Class 82: 1st James Reilly. Non-pedigree sheep Champion & reserve: James Reilly. Class 83: 1st James Reilly. Class 84: 1st Robert Porter; 2nd and 3rd Laura Connell, Granard. Classes 85, 86 & 87: 1st James Reilly. Goats Champion: Peter Kinlan, Aughnacliffe, Co. Longford. Class 88: 1st Margaret Lynch, Loughduff, Co. ; 2nd Cathal Duignan, Cornafean, Co. ; 3rd Breifne O'Brien, Class 89: 1st Peter Kinlan, Aughnacliffe; 2nd Cathal Duignan; 3rd Breifne O'Brien. Home industries Class 100: 1st G. and M. Reynolds, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon; 2nd Mary Duignan, Cornafean; 3rd Anna Curtin, Ballyjamesduff. Class 101: 1st Seamus and Shane McCarvill, Smithboro, Co. Monaghan; 2nd Kathleen Kilgannon, Cloone, Co. Leitrim; 3rd Nuala Leddy, Potahee, Ballinagh. Class 102: 1st Roisin Barry, Killeshandra; 2nd Emma Cartwright, Killeshandra; 3rd Margaret Maguire, Arva. Class 103: 1st Rosemary Mulligan, Arva; 2nd Rosemary Murphy, Ballinagh; 3rd Catherine Magarahan, Arva. Class 104: 1st Peggy Allen, ; 2nd Nuala Leddy, Ballinagh; 3rd Teresa Donohoe, Moyne, Co. Longford. Class 105: 1st Margaret Brady, Arva; 2nd Catherine Magarahan, Arva; 3rd Peggy Allen, . Class 106: 1st Jill Sanderson, Carrick On Shannon; 2nd Catherine Magarahan, Arva. Class 107: 1st Nuala Leddy, Ballinagh. Class 108: 1st Rosemary Murphy, Ballinagh. Class 109: 1st Catherine Magarahan, Arva. Class 110: 1st Jill Sanderson. Class 111: 1st Maureen Kellegher McNally. Class 112: 1st Lynne Stevenson, Corlismore; 2nd Mae Reilly, Drumhaldry Hill, Co. Longford; 3rd Mary Cully, Main St, Arva. Class 113: 1st Monica Ellis, Arva; 2nd Anna Curtin, Ballyjamesduff. Class 114: 1st Anna Curtin. Class 115: 1st Catherine Magarahan, Arva. Class 116: 1st Mary Cully, Main St, Arva. Class 117: 1st Catherine Magarahan. Class 118: 1st Lynne Stevenson; 2nd Margaret Dack, Ballinagh; 3rd Nuala Leddy, Ballinagh. Class 119: 1st G and M Reynolds, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon; 2nd Catherine Magarahan. Class 120: 1st Jill Sanderson. Classes 121 & 122: 1st Lynne Stevenson Class 123: 1st Mary Cully; 2nd Andrew O'Brien, ; 3rd Mary and Orla O'Brien, . Class 124: 1st Patrick Rushe, Ballyconnell. Class 125: 1st May Rushe, Ballyconnell. Class 126: 1st Maureen Kellegher McNally. Classes 127 & 128: 1st Mary and Orla O'Brien. Class 129: 1st May Rushe; 2nd Anne Duncker, Legaginney, Ballinagh; 3rd Kevin Goldrick. Class 130: 1st Lynne Stevenson Homecrafts Classes 131, 132 & 133: 1st Gertie Woods, Ballyconnell. Class 133: 1st Dolores Harte, Kilnacrot. Class 134: 1st Gertie Woods Class 135: 1st Orla and Edel Kiernan, Carrigallen; 2nd Jill Sanderson; 3rd Megan Gakkigan, Kilnaleck. Class 136: 1st Lynne Stevenson; 2nd Mary Mulligan, Loughduff, Co. . Class 137: 1st G & M Reynolds. Class 138: 1st Jill Sanderson. Class 139: 1st Mary Mulligan. Class 140: 1st Catherine Magarahan. Class 141: 1st G & M Reynolds. Class 142: 1st Mary Mulligan, Loughduff, Co. Class 143: 1st Mary Mulligan, Loughduff Farm and garden Class 144: 1st Seamus Murphy, Ballinagh. Class 145: 1st G & M Reynolds. Classes 146 & 147: 1st Patrick Rushe. Class 148: 1st Daire Finnegan, Cormore, Arva. Class 149: 1st Breifne O'Brien, . Class 150: 1st Patrick Rushe. Class 151: No entries. Class 152: 1st Andrew O'Brien, . Classes 153 & 154: 1st Patrick Rushe. Class 155: 1st Kathleen Kilgannon. Class 156: 1st Kevin Goldrick. Classes 157 & 158: 1st Patrick Rushe Class 159: 1st Charlie Reilly, Ballyhaise. Class 160: 1st Miriam Dwyer. Class 161: 1st Kathleen Kilgannon. Class 162: 1st Kathleen McStay, Aughnacliffe, Co. Longford. Classes 163 & 164: 1st May Rushe Class 165: 1st Mary Mulligan, Loughduff. Class 166: 1st May Rushe. Class 167: 1st Kevin Goldrick. Class 168: 1st Mary Mulligan. Class 169: 1st May Rushe. Classes 170 & 171: 1st Mary Mulligan. Class 172: 1st Pat McKenna. Class 173: 1st May Rushe. Class 174: 1st Mary Mulligan. Class 175: 1st May Rushe. The Jimmy Sloane Perpetual Trophy for best single exhibit classes 146 to 160 went to Patrick Rushe, Ballyconnell. The J.J. Sloane Memorial Trophy for best single exhibit classes 161 to 175 was won by Mary Mulligan, Loughduff. Photography Class 180: 1st Geraldine Dobson, Aughnacliffe. Class 181: 1st Janet Lewis, Killeshandra, Co. . Class 182: 1st Enda Gormley, Moyne, Co. Longford. Class 183: 1st John Hurson, Arva. Class 184: 1st Joanne Austin, Ardee, Co. Louth. Juvenille classes Class 185: 1st Colm Kiernan, Carrigallen. Class 186: 1st Kelly Cartwright, Killeshandra. Class 187: 1st Kelly Cartwright, Killeshandra. Class 188: 1st Katie Ellis, Cormore, Arva. Class 189: 1st Niamh Hynes, Clonsilla, Dublin 15. Class 190: 1st Aaron Dobson, Aughnacliffe, Co. Longford. Class 191: 1st Tara O' Reilly, Cortober N.S. Class 192: 1st Kevin Brennan, Cortober N.S. Class 193: 1st Anna Walsh, St. Mary's N.S., Arva. Class 194: 1st Darielle Brady, St. Mary's N.S., Arva. Class 195: 1st Kate Madden, St. Marys N.S., Arva. Class 196: 1st Jason McIntyre, Coronea N.S. Class 197: 1st Katie Masterson, Coronea N.S. Class 198 1st Stephen Cullen, Coronea N.S. Class 199: 1st Amy O'Reilly, Coronea N.S. Class 200: 1st Alannah Finnegan, Cortober N.S. Class 201: 1st Clare Brennan, Cortober N.S. Class 202 1st Alannah Finnegan, Cortober N.S. Class 203: 1st Aaron Jones, Arva Church of Ireland N.S. The overall schools' winner was St. Mary's N.S., Arva.