The Claregalway Tidy Towns Committee are holding a Fundraising BBQ on Saturday 31st July, starting at 8pm at the Arches Bar and hotel in Claregalway. The BBQ is to fund all the work that has been achieved in the village so far, and to prepare for planned works in the future.

The BBQ will be held in the marquee which the Arches Bar and hotel erect every year during race week. The marquee at the Arches is a great addition to the social side of the races festival for the community of Claregalway and all the welcome travelling public.

The Tidy Towns committee in Claregalway have been extremely busy with weeding, litter control, briar removal, planting flowers and shrubs and generally cleaning up the village. The BBQ is there main fundraising event this year, and will hopefully be an annual event to look forward to. Throughout the spring and summer time, many locals volunteered their time to help the committee, and everyone is looking forward to the BBQ night to meet and reflect on all the work that’s been done so far, and to meet up socially again with newly made friends.

Tickets are being sold locally, and are available from any of the committee members and at the door on the night. Admission is €15 for food and entertainment, a great night of community spirit and a welcoming atmosphere guaranteed.

The committee would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that has helped so far including all local businesses and look forward to working with you all in the future.

Engineers are planning what is termed a flood eye at the bridge which means they will be adding an additional channel on one side of the river to allow backed-up flood water flow under the bridge and on to Lough Corrib more easily.

This will be a nightmare for commuters and vehicles using the West’s main transportation artery but will provide relief not only for Claregalway and its hinterland but also the communities of Abbeyknockmoy and Corofin which will benefit from the flood relief measures.

Engineers have to decide whether it is best to close the Claregalway bridge entirely for three to four weeks and get the work completed in as short a timeframe as possible or to cut traffic down to a single lane and keep half the bridge open at a time.

Residents in the Corrandulla and general Carnmore/Cregmore areas will be alarmed at the news that their communities are to become official ‘rat runs’ during the construction period and there is expected to be considerable opposition to this development.

However, members of Galway Co Council agreed at a meeting in County Hall on Monday that the benefits in terms of flood relief in the long term will outweigh the short-term inconvenience caused by the bridge works.

Minister Martin Mansergh announced a €8 million programme of flood relief and prevention works when he visited Claregalway on Thursday. This will fund works recommended by a joint OPW/Galway Co Council Working Group on the Clare River Flood Study.

Other works approved include: construction of a similar flood eye at Crusheen Bridge; road raising at Miontach South and North; channel maintenance and culvert upgrades at Kiniska, work on the wall at An Mhainistir housing estate and building an embankment at the old Nine Arches Bridge.

Remedial flood relief works are also taking place in several other areas throughout the county which were impacted on by last year’s flooding.

Tuam-based Cllr Tom McHugh said there was a large number of very welcome flood relief projects which are either underway or ready to start. He and his colleagues recognised that the plans for Claregalway would be a nightmare for motorists and commuters while ongoing but they accepted that if they were to tackle the flooding threat and spare people a repeat of last year’s terrible flooding then it had to be done.

“This is a major engineering project and we should not underestimate the difficulties it will cause for people but if we can put up with it for a limited number of weeks then the benefits should be clear to see. I don’t expect people to be happy about this but sometimes difficult decisions have to be made for the greater good and we are fortunate to be in a position to have several important projects underway before the threat of winter flooding sets in,” he said.

Director of Services for Roads and Transportation Frank Gilmore told The Tuam Herald that he would be meeting with the consultants and the OPW next week to finalise plans. They would be looking at the possibilities regarding the traffic situation but no definite decisions have been taken yet.

He confirmed that the options were closing the bridge completely for three to four weeks or opting for a stop-go system.

“If everything goes according to plan we hope work will begin in the third week of September and be completed by the end of October.”

He acknowledged that either way it would present severe difficulties for motorists during the construction period but pointed out that last winter motorists had to go through similar inconvenience. This time at least the disruption will have a positive benefit for not only the community of Claregalway but all who were impacted on by the flooding in the Clare River catchment area.

For more information visit the Galway County Council website here.

Article courtesy of Tony Galvin, Tuam Herald

To celebrate this huge achievement, An Taoiseach Brian Cowan was in Lydican earlier today.

A press release will be issued in coming days and we will post it as soon as possible.

Below is an article written in the Connacht Tribune at the time Glynn’s first opened for business in 1935. The text is repeated underneath for easier reading.

Visit Glynn’s Fruit & Veg website for more details on the company.

I have at last found my ideal farm, writes the Special Correspondent of “The Connacht Tribune“. It lies about seven miles from Galway on that road that links Claregalway with Oranmore. If you should pass along that way I should advise you to inquire for the modest but neat and trim thatched cottage of Mr. George Glynn, of Lydican. It stands at right angles to the roadside, facing the sun and the south. Reaching away from it over the gentlest of undulating country is the thirty acre farm, which well directed, persistent and consistent husbandry has made into one of the most delightful, self-contained units I have ever seen. Had we a million of these farms in the nation, we could lay claim to be a truly great people, rich in everything that any honest man might need.

The winds of the economic war have touched lightly the grizzled head and copper-brown, healthy features of George Glynn, nor have they made languid the smile of his thrifty helpmate or shrilled the happy laughter of his eleven children. The camera tells you the story in pictures in page 14 and indicates the farm where labour is a ceaseless prayer and pleasure, where faith is sanity applied in good works, where heaven states on bountiful harvests. One feels that there are hundreds of years of stalwart tradition from behind the Glynns.

Stock and Tillage

Let me tell you in detail something that the pictures only tell those who have eyes to see. Mr. George Glynn’s farm is confined to 30 acres, not all of it arable. He has 80 head of sheep, 20 head of cattle, accounting milch cows, and two horses for farm work. The result is that he is compelled to expand his activities into conacre for tillage every year. He was busy in the oat field when I saw him, and his children followed the machine, binding the oats. He has under tillage 3 acres of wheat and oats, 2 acres of potatoes, 2 acres of turnips and mangles. He has a trim and tidy garden which occupies an acre. Fruit trees are its shelter belt, and in its centre rises a tomato house, 40 feet by 15 feet, with a embie space of 600 square feet. It was built under the Gaeltacht Tomato Scheme on the initiative of Mr. P.J. MacNicholas, the horticultural instructor, and never was a grand of £80 given to more fruitful purpose. Actually, with Mr. Glynn’s own labour and that of his helpers, the house costs £75.

Luscious home-grown tomoatoes are now taking on a rich, deep scarlet in the sun. They will be marketed in Galway as will the winter lettuce which will replace them, thus fulfilling in husbandry the retention of the year. Lettuce, cauliflower, carrots, parsnips, peas and onions, early and late potatoes, fruit and honey – for the Glynns are enthusiastic apiarists – are raised on the farm and marketed in Galway; and hotels and private houses which purchase from Glynn’s of Lydican, know that they are getting the produce of their own land at its best. Even the flowers bloom there with a colourful fulfilment such as repays all who sow with wisdom and foresight that they may reap in abundance.

No lecture hall, no demonstration plot could yield the lesson that a visit to Lydican implies. Even the trim hedges, crowned with harps and wolf dogs and round towers, tell of infinite patience in industry and of traditions that have maintained in enduring virility of a great race. Now Mr. Glynn is going to build himself a new house, for the old thatched cottage stands nearby a pit where the manure that enriches and renews the sole is fermented. Yet I hope the old house, with its steep of russet thatch, will be perserved, for assuredly it supplied the dynamic force that made this farm what it is. Well might one, leaving this pleasant and fruitful place, recall that

“Far back in the ages The plough with wreaths was crowned; The hands of kings and sages Entwined the chaplet round.”

Below is a picture of the Glynn Family today.

The brief from the Office of Public Works (OPW) required the study to include the following;

• A hydrographic survey from Lough Corrib to Claregalway to establish whether the presence of siltation significantly reduces the conveyance capacity of the channel.
• An examination of existing data on the Clare and Abbert Rivers to compare the Arterial Drainage Scheme design with the existing channel at critical locations.
• An examination of the available Hydrometric Stations data in the area with particular reference to the recent flood event.
• The development of a numeric hydraulic model of the study area, using available data augmented with a series of cross sections taken at selected locations.
• Calibration of the hydraulic model using data gathered from the recent flood.
• The development of an outline flood damage (improvement works benefit) analysis.
• Recommendation of a number of engineering measures to form the basis of a proposed alleviation option to eliminate or reduce flooding in the study area from a similar sized event to the November 2009 flood.

In order to fulfil the brief, the study comprised the following elements;

• A review of the Clare River catchment including description of the various Arterial Drainage Scheme works, physical characteristics of the Clare and Abbert Rivers, the control of water levels in Lough Corrib, catchment geology and hydrogeology, ecology, meteorology, urbanisation and land use zoning and cultural heritage.
• An analysis of historical floods in the study area.
• An analysis of the various parameters pertaining to the November 2009 flood event including analysis of rainfall events and return periods.
• The collection and assessment of extensive datasets from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Office of Public Works and Met Eireann relating to Clare River flows and water levels, Abbert River flows and water levels, Lough Corrib levels, rainfall intensities and operational data relating to the Salmon Weir sluice barrage in Galway city on the Corrib River.
• Surveying of cross-sections of the Clare and Abbert River channels and flood plains.
• Surveying of all of the bridges and other hydraulic features along the study area river reaches.
• The comparison of existing bed levels and cross sectional areas to design levels and cross sectional area in both the Clare and the Abbert Rivers.
• The collection of anecdotal evidence relating to peak flood levels and other pertinent information.
• The estimation of flood flows relating to November 2009, the 100 year flood and the 100 year flood incorporating a climate change allowance.
• An hydraulic analysis of the Clare and Abbert River channels including the development of a HECRAS 1D model.
• Calibration of the hydraulic model using the anecdotal evidence collected for the November 2009 flood event.
• The use of the hydraulic model to analyse potential flood risk management measures to eliminate or reduce the impact of a flood of similar magnitude to that of November 2009.
• The preparation of an outline flood damage analysis for the November 2009 flood event in order to calculate the economic damages consequent to this flood.
• Extrapolation of the November 2009 flood damage analysis for events of other magnitudes in order to calculate the economic risk posed by various flood events and to calculate the benefit accruing from putting various flood risk management measures in place.
• The evaluation of various alleviation options made up of a number of flood risk management measure, by carrying out initial viability screening on technical, economic, environmental and social acceptability grounds.
• For flood risk management measures deemed to be potentially viable, a more detailed viability assessment was carried out which included cost benefit analysis, an assessment of upstream or downstream flood risk, an assessment of environmental impact, climate change impact and future maintenance requirements.
• The drawing up of a programme of flood risk management measures satisfying the detailed viability assessment.

The main outcome of the elements of works listed above is a recommended programme of measures to deal with identified flood risk locations complete with cost estimates, estimates of economic benefits accruing as a result of the implementation of the measures and the calculation of benefit to cost ratios.

Another outcome of the study is that it is not possible to provide viable flood risk management measures for the areas at risk of flooding adjacent to the Abbert River and for one particular area in Miontach North adjacent to the Clare River.

The full description of the study is divided into eight chapters contained in Volume 1. Volume 2 contains Appendices pertinent to the study.

Chapter 1 is an introduction to the report and sets out the aims of the study.

Chapter 2 discusses the general catchment characteristics of the Clare River catchment as well as the study area. It also discusses the Lough Corrib catchment and the operation of the sluice gates at the Salmon Weir in Galway city in relation to levels on Lough Corrib. The final section of the chapter describes significant flood events in the study area including a description of the flood of November 2009.

Chapter 3 describes the various datasets collected in order to carry out the study including a description of the survey of the rivers as well as the collection of anecdotal evidence from residents and public representatives from the study area.

Chapters 4 and 5 analyse the hydrology and the hydraulics of the Clare and Abbert River. The hydrological element focuses on estimating pertinent flood flows at the various hydrometric gauges.

In Chapter 5, relating to the hydraulic analysis, the development of the hydraulic model is described as well as an analysis of various model runs both for calibration purposes and to test various flood risk management measures.

An outline damage analysis is provided in Chapter 6 for the November 2009 flood events, for the Design Flood event and for the Design Flood Event with a Climate Change allowance factored in. It also describes the results of the preliminary Flood Risk Assessment.

Chapter 7 provides detail on the various flood risk management measures proposed and an initial and more detailed viability assessment process, based on which the measures were assessed.

For more information check out the Office of Public Works full Report here.

The amount includes donations from the pupils and teachers plus some private donations which I want to sincerely thank. I would like to take this opportunity to offer sincere thank you to all of the parents, children and teachers who contributed on the day.

I would like to thank all the pupils of the school for participating in this fun event; I hope you all enjoyed the ice-cream!

Mr. Pat Coen for giving us the use of the hall at such short notice.

There were also my wonderful volunteers who gave up their morning to help make this a success, Eilish Dolan, Carole Heery, Mags Jordan, Maire Codyre, Carole Duggan, my son Darragh and my niece Clodagh Murphy who brought along her friends to help out.

A sincere thank you to Hughes Supervalu for sponsoring the wavers and supplying the ice-cream on behalf of HB.

Thank you very much to the teachers who co-ordinated their classes and insured the event went off smoothly.

Many thanks again, I really enjoyed the day, see you all next year.

Eilis Codyre (O’Connell)
Organiser

Where to start? I was six years old when the original Toy Story was released, way back in 1995. Needless to say, I was absolutely captivated like most other people in the world, young and old alike. It was superbly animated, well-acted and revolutionary for the film industry in terms of what was possible to achieve on film. The concept of an entire CG film was mind-blowing, but Toy Story had the characters, charm and humour to pull it off brilliantly. Now, in 2010, following an excellent 1999 sequel that successfully matched the first, everyone’s favourite toys are back for a side-splitting yet contemplative adventure that is simply outstanding.

Woody, Buzz and the gang are forced to face the harsh reality of their owner Andy growing up. He’s about to head off to college, and the toys face an unknown fate. Will they be thrown out because they are no longer needed, or will Andy realise how much these toys mean to him and keep them safe? It’s a noticeably darker story for the franchise but is all the better for it. It allows for some emotionally satisfying moments and genuinely great commentary on acceptance and letting go.

The animation in Toy Story 3 is absolutely perfect. Shrek Forever After (see review here) was also powered by brilliant animation, but Toy Story 3 really sets the bar. Every single minute detail is superbly realised. Everything looks as it should; fluff, rain, plastic. They’re all represented with eerie realism that completely draws you into the film. The characters themselves are utterly fantastic. Joining the remnants of the original toys is a multitude of brilliant characters from the Sunnyside Day-care centre. Standouts include; Lotso, the de facto leader of the day-care toys, Ken, the famous male counterpart to Barbie, and Chuckles, a once happy clown now feeling seriously depressed.

The voice acting is fantastic, with Hanks and Allen once again completely on form. Michael Keaton also turns in a great performance as Ken, providing some very funny scenes with Barbie. The old cast all return, with the exception of the late Jim Varney who voiced Slinky in the first two films. He is replaced by his close friend Blake Clark, who makes the change barely noticeable. The supporting Sunnyside characters and Bonnie’s toys are all performed very well, with actors such as Timothy Dalton and Bonnie Hunt portraying them. Classic characters like Rex, Hamm, Jessie and the Potato Heads are all as excellent as ever.

Toy Story 3 is not only a perfect end to a perfect trilogy, it’s also one of the funniest comedies I’ve seen in quite some time. The sentimental value of Toy Story hasn’t diminished one bit and it’s great to see such a satisfying second sequel. Having grown up with Toy Story, seeing this instalment at 21 years of age was a fulfilling experience, giving a great sense of completion to a beloved film series. Adults will adore it. Children will adore it. Everyone should adore it. And after all, it’s Toy Story! Did I even need to tell you how good it is?

Club Gear: Club Shorts, Socks, Jerseys, Polo Shirts, Hoodies and new Club Jackets are available now at Hughes Supervalu Claregalway. For all the latest Club news checkout the Clubs website here.

Seniors: After holding a slender lead of 5 points to 4 over Milltown at half-time, Claregalway could add only 2 points to their tally in the second half and as a consequence lost the County Championship match played at Tuam Stadium on Sunday last. The score was 0-11 to 0-7. Claregalway got on top at mid-field early on and with a good supply of the ball, points by Martin Kelly (free) and Ronan Flynn gave them a lead of 2 points to no score on 10 minutes. It should have been more because several scoring chances were created. Joe Kearney sent over an excellent point from 40 yards but Milltown responded with 3 points to tie the scores after 25 minutes. Paul McGuinness and Martin Kelly added a point each and just before the break Danny Cummins’ shot hit the upright and drifted wide. Soon after the resumption James Nallen moved to centre half after David Heaney retired injured and Milltown then gradually took control around centre field. But when Adrian Faherty pointed a 40 yard free and Martin Kelly added a well taken point when he collected a cross field ball from Adrian to again tie the scores, 7 points each, 15 minutes into the half, it looked as if the trend of play had turned in Claregalway’s favour. But from thereon it was Milltown who got the scores, a pointed free and 3 points from play. Standing in for the injured Anthony Watson, Stephen Cunniffe at full back did well and Joe Kearney’s display at wing back stood out.

Team: Brian O’Donoghue, Brian Loughlin, Stephen Cunniffe(capt.), Joe Garrett, Joe Kearney, David Heaney, John Paul O’Connell, James Nallen, Barry Cullinane, Ronan O’Flynn , Paul McGuiness, Adrian Faherty, Enda O’Connell, Martin Kelly, Danny Cummins. Subs. Conor Glynn for D. Heaney, Fergal McEvoy for E. O’Connell, Brian Day for M. Kelly.

Claregalway U14A boys defeated Corofin in the U14A championship final played in Tuam Stadium on Friday last 23rd of July. Claregalway began well with wind advantage and with Chris Carroll putting over our first point, this was followed by Richard Doyle, Ryan Manning, Mark Rohan, Andrew Connolly and Sean Linnane adding great points to put Claregalway ahead at half time by 0-10 to 0-1

Corofin began the second half well getting good scores but goals by Andrew Connolly and Richard Doyle put Claregalway well ahead and finished strongly with points from Andrew Connolly, Conor Shaughnessy, Richard Doyle, Sean Linnane, Mark Rohan and Ryan Manning who received man of the match. .

Liam Egan did very well in goal and got great support from our backs of Kevin Ruane, Keith Herwood, Paraic Kearney, Paddy Griffin, Jamie Holland and Sean Loftus. This was another fine team performance Final score Claregalway 2-16 Corofin 2-4.

After the match PJ Rabbitte Coiste Pell Na nOg presented the cup to the Claregalway captain Conor Shaughnessy. This team have now won all three titles this year for the second year running – County Feile Champions, County League and County Championship – well done to all the lads and management team of Phelim Manning, Mathew Kearney, Mike Coyle, Gerry Brennan and Margaret Kearney.

U-14 Ladies training on Saturday evening at 5:30. The Club will have a bus going to the Connaught Senior Ladies Final on Sunday next in Tubbercurry. Bus will depart the Clubhouse at 10am.The U-14 Team play Moydavits en route at 12 and then go on to be Guests at the Connaught Final in recognition of winning the All-Ireland Feile. Supporters welcome to come on the Bus just text your name to Joan Gavin on 0868959708

U12 Ladies next training on Monday 1st August. Training is in Knockdoemore at 6.30pm.

Build and take home your very own Space Models every day!

Mad Science Space Camp was developed by Mad Science & NASA.

At Space Camp you will work with a Mad Scientist doing experiments with space models to investigate and explore:

• How do rockets work?
• What is it like to live on a space station?
• What are comets, meteors & asteroids?
• What special equipment is used in space?

Just €65!

For Kids Age 5-12, Claregalway Study Centre, Tuam Road

3rd-6th August 10am – 12.30pm

Phone Mad Science on 091 768557 to book your place!

Sean Duffy, Education Officer with Co. Galway VEC, who was on the delegation,  said they asked the Minister to give the go-ahead for the new school.

“She replied that she would come back with a formalised position which would bring clarity to the situation.

“She added that she would come back with her reply very quickly,” says Sean Duffy.

He added that the group, consisting of members of a parents’ committee anxious to set up the school, local politicians and other interested parties met with the Minister for approximately half an hour last evening.

“Those on the delegation thought it was a very positive meeting and we are hopeful of a favourable decision,” he added.

At the monthly meeting of Co. Galway VEC in Athenry on Monday CEO Joe McDonagh said the VEC was delighted to be asked by the founding parents’ committee to be patron of the new school.

This request was made since VEC officials and members attended a public meeting in Claregalway in May regarding the proposed school.

“The VEC is pleased to be asked by the committee to become patron of the new school and we are encouraged by the passion and huge commitment of all those involved in the project,” said the CEO.

“The committee are pushing ahead for an opening date of September 2011 and even though that may sound ambitious letters have already gone to the Department of Education stating that the VEC has been approached to be the patron,” he added.

He said the VEC was honoured that Education Officer Sean Duffy was also asked to be on the delegation that met Minister Mary Coughlan about the school.

Cllr. Jarlath McDonagh  told Monday’s meeting that he first mooted the idea of a second level school for Claregalway back in 2006.

“It is an ideal location as Claregalway is a growing area.  With the secondary school in Oranmore full to capacity, and similar situations in Athenry, finding secondary school places for teenagers is a problem for families in Claregalway.

“It is difficult for parents to get their children to and from schools in Galway city and it is great the VEC has been requested to be the patron of this new community college,” he said.

Cllr. McDonagh suggested that the new school could be located in empty industrial units which are currently vacant in Claregalway Corporate Park.

He said if those empty buildings were converted for use as a school the new facility could be in operation as soon as September 2011.  It could transfer to a more permanent school building at a later date.

Oranmore’s Cllr. Liam Carroll told Monday’s meeting that he was glad the VEC “had taken the bull by the horns” by becoming the patron of the new school.

Chairman of Co. Galway VEC Pat Gilmore said everybody in the VEC is excited about it being requested by the parents to become the patron of another new school.

“Co Galway VEC’s success with Colaiste an Eachreidh in Athenry over the past few years proves that we are ideally suited to be patrons of another new second level school,” he said.

It had been pointed out at a previous meeting of the VEC that people from Claregalway  are experiencing major problems trying to get children to and from schools in the city at peak traffic times.

In some instances students were not getting back to their homes in Claregalway until 7 or 8 pm in the evenings by bus or car.

Tom Gilmore

Val Noone is the present Chairperson and he is ably assisted by Secretary Madge Fahy, Entries Secretary Bernie Noone, Treasurer Anne Nally and Vice Chairperson Tom McCann, all of whom do trojan work to keep the show on the road. There is a small committee who organise the show and a huge number of people who turn up on the day to help out. Every bit of help received is gratefully accepted and appreciated and it is hoped all those very reliable, dependable people will turn up again this year.

To start the celebrations off this year the Annual Show Queen Dance was held in the Central Tavern on June 12th. Ms. Emer McManus, daughter of Philip & Geri McManus of Rockwood was crowned Show Queen 2010. She was presented with the Perpetual Trophy and a number of gifts from the show committee – all befitting a Queen. As it is the show’s 20th year in existence it was decided to invite all 20 Show Queens to the Show Queen Dance. Unfortunately all weren’t able to attend due to other commitments but those who did enjoyed the night and it brought back fond memories especially to those who were queens in the earlier years. All were presented with a gift from the show committee as a token of appreciation for all they had done to promote the show. Tom Dempsey Interiors sponsored the prizes for the Show Queen and also some terrific raffle prizes. Tom has sponsored this event every year and it is very much appreciated.

The show will be held in Duffys Equestrian Centre in Rockwood, Claregalway on Sunday, August 22nd this year. This is an excellent facility to host the show and the committee is indebted to the Duffy family who, year in year out, allow it to use the indoor and outdoor arenas, adjoining fields and upstairs in the indoor arena where you can have a cuppa in comfort and some home-made goodies.

This year’s show has almost 250 classes in the following categories: Horses, Ponies, Sheep, Cattle, a huge Dog Show, Fowl classes and a Pet Show. These classes all take place in the outdoor arenas.

In the indoor arena there are classes for Crafts, Art, Photography, Home Baking, Jam, Eggs, Flowers, Farm Produce and a large Children’s section.

During the day there will be lots of competitions taking place such as: Bonny Baby, Glamorous Granny, Best Dresses Lady, Junior Miss, Junior Mister, and Twins. The show grounds will be a hive of activity with trade stands, side shows and entertainment for children. This year there will be a Bumper Lucky Dip this year with great prizes, such as – watches, clock radios, photo albums, jewellery, wine, cakes, scented candles, large & small cuddly toys and lots more.

To keep it interesting and to attract new entrants, the show committee introduces something new to the show every year. This year it has added a Bay Mare Class in the Connemara Pony Classes and a Half Bred Mare Class in the Horse Section. It is anticipated that there will be great interest and competition in these classes.

The Agility Class for dogs introduced to the several years ago continues to attract great interest from dog owners and spectators alike. It’s a great spectacle – watching dogs being put through their paces, over the jumps and into the tunnels etc. The Donkey Derby is usually the grand finale of the day. It’s a real fun event and very enjoyable to watch. This year the prize money has been upped to €100 for the winner, and it is expected the competition will be steep. So get those donkeys in training!

As with all voluntary run events, finance is always a major problem. It is no different for the Agricultural Show and every year we depend on our sponsors to finance the event. It would not be possible to run the show without the financial assistance we get from our sponsors. We ask you to please support our sponsors whenever you can and we take this opportunity to thank our sponsors for the support they give us. In the present economical climate it is difficult for businesses to keep afloat so any way you can support them will be appreciated. Sincere thanks again to all who give us financial support.

Last year the weather was not in our favour but we are optimistic for this year and hope to see large numbers from the parish attending the show. This can be your contribution to keeping the show alive and we feel sure you will enjoy the day. It’s a great family day out and lots for the children to do and see.

All information about the various classes can be found in the Show Schedule.

If you would like to enter in any class just telephone
Bernie Noone, Entries Secretary, at
091 798 931 for a schedule.

It’s as simple as that! For information on trade stands etc. contact the
Show Secretary, Madge Fahy at
087 9180723.

The show is affiliated to the Irish Shows Association and the Irish Pony Society.

Pictured at top are Former Show Queens:
Standing: L to R.
Surney Dempsey, Michelle Quinn, Rose Noone, Claire Long, Samantha Murphy, Noreen O’Brien (First Show Queen) and Caroline Fahy.

Seated: L to R.
Miriam Dunleavy, Emer McManus (2010 Show Queen) and Kate McCarthy.

Pictured below is the 2010 Claregalway Agricultural Show Queen Emer McManus.