National Dairy Show returns to Green Glens Complex

MILLSTREET stages the National Dairy Show on its return to the spacious Green Glens Complex this Saturday with an extensive programme underway at 9am.

For more than three decades, the phenomenal success of this event is evident as it draws the cream of the country’s dairy stock with bumper attendances convening on the multi purpose venue.

Connoisseurs of dairy cows are in for a treat at the 35th hosting, the event firmly recognised as the Miss Ireland of milk production, bringing together all the top Holstein and Jersey cows from all over the country.

Former rugby great Mike Ross will officially open the show. A graduate of dairy farming, having grown up on the home farm near Ballyhooly in North Cork, Mike will sign one of the new Irish jerseys together with a signed rugby ball and a hamper of goods will be up for grabs as door prizes.

Hosted by the Cork Holstein Friesian Breeders Club, the National Dairy Show is a premier event on the European circuit with trade stand and visitor enquiries from Britain, France, Holland, Germany, Italy and North America seeking to promote innovative agricultural and farm accessories.

Apart from the cattle, the show is a family day out with gardening, floral arrangement exhibition, local crafts and best dressed events also on the programme. While the dairy show incorporates all aspects of dairy farming, showmanship and dairy cow classes (Holstein Friesian and Jersey) form a major part of the event, with a prize fund of €30,000 in 25 classes. A large entry of cattle will be judged by Mr. Brian Carscadden from Canada. Brian grew up on a dairy farm in Ontario and holds a BSC in Agriculture, his career has taken him from a sire analyst for United Breeders, Ontario to his current role in Semex Alliance.

Organisers recognise the need to make the dairy show a day out for all the family. Besides a large trade stand area featuring 120 exhibits, there will be Arts and crafts face-painting, a bouncing castle, and many other novelties.

The artisan Food Village will showcase produce from up to twenty producers with the exciting addition this year of TV Chef, Richy Virahsawmy, of RTÉ’s popular Today Show, demonstrating how best to use the produce in a purpose built kitchen. Younger visitors will be enthralled by the new addition of a small animal farm with both familiar and more exotic species sure to be of interest.