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The launch of the 2023 Newry Show was held last Thursday in Bessbrook Town Hall. A large number of sponsors, agrifood industry stakeholders and show committee members attended the event.
This year’s Newry Agricultural Show takes place on Saturday, 24 June on lands at 12-18 Derrywilligan Road, Bessbrook, Newry.
The event returns after a four-year break. The last Newry Show was held in 2019. The Covid restrictions prevented its hosting in 2020 and 2021 while the event did not take place last year for financial reasons.
However, it’s all systems go for 2023.
A tremendous range of attractions has been organised for the big day. These include competition classes for ponies, cattle, sheep, goats and pig. Horticulture will also be a major theme of Newry Show 2023.
A food village will feature prominently as will activities for young farmers and children.
Old favourites including the Home Industries’ marquee and the renowned dog show will make a welcome return to Newry Show 2023.
Craft stalls, commercial trade stands, music of all types, vintage machinery and the always popular Silverstream sheep dogs will all feature at Newry Show. It all adds up to a tremendous day-out for people of all ages.
A tremendous level of excitement has been generated regarding the return of Newry Show 2023.
But it was events totally outside the control of the event organisers that conspired to almost de-rail the planned celebration of farming and food.
An outbreak of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) on the farm that had been originally earmarked as the host venue for Newry Show almost led to the cancellation of this year’s event.
Only the intervention of a nearby farmer, in providing an alternative venue close to the village of Bessbrook, has ensured that the show will still take place on its scheduled date
Newry Agricultural Show committee chairman, Brian Lockhart, takes up the story. “This was the last thing that we were expecting. It turns out that one reactor animal was identified courtesy of a recent bTB test on the herd of the farmer, whose land we have used to host our annual show for the past number of years.
“Given that our original site had been used to graze some of the cattle tested, veterinary staff within the Department of Agriculture determined that Newry Show 2023 could not take place on these lands.”
He added “But we do have an alternative venue, again close to Bessbrook. And that’s the good news.”
According to Newry Show’s chairman, 2023 is very much a case of bringing back an event that has a history stretching back 106 years.
He commented “We celebrated our centenary back in 2017.
“Farming and food are at the very heart of t economy throughout the Newry and Mourne area. The commitment to host Newry Show is as strong as it has ever been.
“But events of recent weeks have brought home to us all just how devastating the impact that bTB is having in rural areas at the present time.”
Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) deputy president William Irvine attended the recent launch of Newry Show 2023.
He confirmed that bTB is now out of control, adding “The cost to the public purse of implementing the current bTB control measures, which aren’t working, will be north of £50M in 2023.
“The reality is that badgers do harbour bTB. The disease is being picked up on increasing basis within road kill animals submitted for post mortem investigation.
“There is a new strategy in place, which addresses the reality that bTB must be eradicated within both our cattle and badger populations.
“It is up to the Department of Agriculture to implement these plans as a matter of priority.”
According to the UFU representative, farmers want to see healthy populations of badgers and cattle living side by side each other in the countryside.
He concluded “The cost to the public purse of the current bTB control measures is immense.
“If we had the disease eradicated this money could be used to provide more effective support measures for farm businesses and rural communities right across Northern Ireland.”
Meanwhile, Brian Lockhart is quick to confirm the tremendous community commitment that is driving the success of Newry Agricultural Show 2023.
“And all of this is taking place on a voluntary basis,” he stressed.
“A case in point is the fact that we have been able to find an alternative site within such a short space of time.
Brian concluded “We have a tremendous range of attractions lined up for this year’s show. Let’s just hope the weather plays its part on Saturday, June 24th.”
