The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Countdown to Kingdom County Fair 2018 is on...
EVEN though the weather right now mightn’t be the most reliable indicator that summer is on its way, one event that’s always sure to remind us is the annual Kingdom County Fair which takes place in Ballybeggan Racecourse on Sunday, May 13.
This perennial favourite needs little by way of introduction as it’s a staple in the social calendar for rural and urban people alike. Everything is again in place with calls for entries to the various classes of animal competitions and machinery exhibits having been issued. A host of traders and exhibitors, indoors and outdoors, will also be in attendance selling their wares – all that’s left now is for you to turn up on the day.
Jim Kelly is current PRO of Kingdom County Fair and he has been a member of the committee for over 40 years in which time he served as chairman and treasurer. He asserts that all of the fair’s old appeal is still there and that the fair has evolved in recent years by keeping pace with changes in society.
“The show is quite unique in that while it’s still largely about promoting agriculture and industry, it does this by incorporating various exhibitors and social events. In many ways the show is probably more necessary now in 2018 than it was starting out in the late 1940s,” he said.
As well as being a big occasion for animal enthusiasts with everything from goats, sheep, cattle, horses, and poultry, the show jumping action is also a major draw with the action getting underway at 10am sharp. Vintage farm machinery is always capable of creating that nostalgic feel and the threshers and stem engines will be chugging away as reminders of days long gone. Dogs are another popular crowd puller and the annual dog and pet show never fails to live up to its reputation for fun and excitement.
One of Kingdom County Fair’s biggest strengths though is its reputation for being an enjoyable family day out and once again there promises to be plenty of music, fun and games to satisfy adults and children alike.
“The crowds are still steady and there will be a lot of events there on the day. It’s also lovely in the sense that children who don’t get the opportunities of old to see farm animals up close, the fair provides this interaction which is a nice feature of the day. There’s as much there for people from the town as from the country. The show has evolved very much in that respect as it’s now a family occasion,” Jim added.