After much deliberation, the executive committee of the Midland & Western Livestock Improvement Society has made the decision to cancel the Carrick-on-Shannon Winter Fair for 2020.

The event, which was set to take place in November, had been in doubt due to COVID-19, but an official statement was withheld until Monday.

Significant event

In the statement, it said: “The committee realises that with both exhibitors and buyers travelling to Carrick-on-Shannon from all counties in Ireland and further afield, it would be irresponsible to host this significant event as the country battles with the COVID-19 pandemic.”

This announcement will come as a massive blow to commercial cattle breeders and buyers.

Particularly in the last numbers of years, the winter fair has been the place to be to sell top show calf prospects for the following summer for showing or breeding.

Last year broke all records, as a 10-month-old Belgian Blue calf sold for a staggering €10,000.

The two-day event, which includes a show and sale of over 400 cattle, will be back for 2021, fingers crossed.