Inventors rise to the challenge in record numbers
INVENTOR fever will grip the Tullamore Show this weekend as pioneering farm safety and home improvement creations are set to dazzle audiences.
Last year saw the largest number of entries in the National Inventions Competition, sponsored by the Farming Independent, since the competition began in the mid 90s.
Around 30 entries are expected this weekend.
Organisers say interest in student innovations has “sky-rocketed”. As such, coordinators have decided that all judging of inventions will take place on Saturday.
Categories include: inventions in home, leisure and building, labour-saving devices, inventions in agriculture, horticulture and forestry and student innovations. A total prize fund of €2,500 is being provided by three sponsors; the Farming Independent, WR Shaw, Rosenallis, Co Laois, and GlennGorey Pumps Ltd, Newbridge, Co Kildare.
Rosettes and the coveted first place cup are also up for grabs. The best student exhibit in each of the three categories will win €100.
Lesley Cox, head of the inventions section, says the level of effort, dedication and creativity is getting higher and higher every year.
“Some exhibitors have been working on their inventions for months, they really want to make something that will make life easier for all farmers. As time goes on, we find that people are getting interested in entering in more than one class, they are entering more than one design,” she said.
“Whether it’s a PTO shaft, things for cutting wood or new contraptions for easily transporting turf from the shed to the turf box, it’s all about making farm life better,” she said.
Last year’s winning inventions included fashionable men’s wooden bow ties, a mobile crush unit, rainwater separator and a slurry gas monitor.
The winner in the ‘inventions in agriculture’ section was Pat Keary for his ‘anti-kick bar’ for castrating bulls. Mr Keary, from Loughrea, wowed judges with his design that removes the threat of a bull kicking the farmer while castration is taking place. As for the judging process, Ms Cox says the judges will systematically work each invention, talk to individual inventors and make their decision based on a series of criteria including presentation, practicality and fit for purpose.
“An officer from the National Patents Office in Kilkenny will come along on the day to advise exhibitors on how to get a patent,” she said.
“So a simple labour-saving device of today might become a groundbreaking invention of tomorrow.”
Judging starts at 10.30am on Saturday and the results will be announced at 3.30pm on Sunday. Inventors are free to sell and display there inventions during the event.