They come from far and wide and even overseas for the Arva Agricultural Show in County Cavan. Chair of the show committee, Ray Brady, says the event is a highlight in agricultural and social calendars, and one that diaspora often travel home for. “A guy rang me and he wanted to know what date the show was on so he could book his ticket to fly home those dates. There is a lot of loyalty, people do make sure they are home for it. This lad’s parents are involved and he was involved as a young fella, so that’s why he wanted to be home for it.”
They come from far and wide and even overseas for the Arva Agricultural Show in County Cavan. Chair of the show committee, Ray Brady, says the event is a highlight in agricultural and social calendars, and one that diaspora often travel home for.
“A guy rang me and he wanted to know what date the show was on so he could book his ticket to fly home those dates. There is a lot of loyalty, people do make sure they are home for it. This lad’s parents are involved and he was involved as a young fella, so that’s why he wanted to be home for it.”
The 60th Arva Show will take place on Sunday 30 July, kicking off the Three Provinces Festival, which runs the week following the show. Ray explains that obviously the judging of livestock and bloodstock classes are pivotal to the show, but also there are lots of other attractions for all the family.
There will be free children’s activities at the show field all day, including bouncing castles, obstacle courses and face painting. For the third year, the Arva Show will host the Irish Tug of War Championship final, which has proved to be a very popular spectacle. A dog show will also take place and there will be tethered hot air balloon rides, allowing people to enjoy the beautiful view over Garty Lough.
Show Dance
The show is as much a social event as it is an agricultural event, the chairman states, and the nighttime lineup reinforces this. At 8pm there will be a fireworks display and from 11pm the much-anticipated Arva Agricultural Show Dance will take place at the Breffin Arms Hotel, where country superstar Robert Mizzell will return for a night of music, song and dancing.
“Robert Mizzell has played here a few times. He’s proved to be quite popular in the area and he kind of has a soft spot for the show dance. The show dance has always been a highlight in people’s social calendars and he seems to like doing it, and we surely like having him.”
As the Arva Show gets geared up to celebrate 60 years and dance the night away, Ray explains the committee are thankful for those who founded the much-loved event: “Our forefathers who started it, they were brilliant people to have the vision to do it and we are just lucky that we are still involved in it, that’s all.” CL
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