Fermoy Show 1991 - number 46!
For many years Fermoy Show was one of the big highlights of the summer season, held in the best of weather and less so on occasions. Here we take a look back at the 46th show held on Sunday, July 7, 1991. In the promotional feature on The Avondhu ahead of the big day, it is stated ‘hopefully the weather will be a bit kinder than of late’.
As some readers may recall(!!), the weather again was a disappointment and hitting the attendance, but ‘ the organisers were more than happy with the way the event went off’, according to TheAvondhu report, which covered two pages, packed with results and pictures, to be followed the next week with further coverage, reflecting the scale of the show and the large number and standard of entries.
There were a staggering 145 events on the schedule, with interesting exhibits and displays also in the Showgrounds. Horses, ponies, cattle, crafts and cookery were catered for in a variety of classes. Other attractions included best dressed lady, baby show, dog show and the Silver Pail Inter Hunt Chase.
The show committee, many who have now gone to their eternal reward and fondly remembered, comprised: President: Fr Tim O’Leary; Vice-Presidents: Richard Barry and Mrs M Baylor; Chairman: Ted Sheehan; Vice-Chairmen: Michael Hegarty and Michael Dunne; Secretary: Miriam Walsh; Treasurer: James Duggan; PRO: Mai Ryan; Chief Steward: Thomas Whelan. The section secretaries were: Clair O’Donovan (horses & ponies), Anne O’Leary and Joan Molan (flowers), Michael Hegarty (cattle), Eileen Buttimer (arts, crafts & cookery), Anne Mellerick (catering) and Edward Gover (safety officer).
The businesses advertising in the 4-page feature (and thanks to them!) were: Barry’s Builders Providers, Hanley’s (Fermoy) Newsagents, Tobin Engineering (Tallow), Mitchelstown uPVC & Aluminium Windows Ltd., Arch Print (Fermoy), The Grand Hotel, Kearney Bros. (Castlelyons), Joe Murphy (Fermoy), Fermoy Mart, Martin Neligan Enterprises, Fermoy Tyre Centre, Bank of Ireland, Denis O’Mahony (Fermoy) Ltd., Brendan O’Meara, John O’Brien TV, Video, Electrical Sales, GAIN - Castlelyons Co-Op, Fermoy Credit Union, Farrell Motors, Sutton’s Ltd., John Dunlea Waste Disposal, The Mill Garden Centre, Mandeville Print (Mitchelstown), Royal Lounge Bar (Coffee Club), SCI (Ireland) Ltd., South of Ireland Petroleum, Gorse Lodge Restaurant, Sutton’s Oil Ltd., AIB, Amber Oil, Tyreland.
Happy to record many of these businesses continue to trade successfully and feature on TheAvondhu regularly and from time to time, some with a change of name, though continuing to give top class service and we hope they continue to do so for many years to come.
Those featuring in the winners enclosure in 1991 included: Tim Beecher, Tallow; John Houlihan, Lismore; Michael McGrath, Templemichael; Peter & Marion O’Connell, Knappogue, Mallow; Pat Lynch, Ladysbridge; John Kenny, Ballyduff; Peter Reynolds, Glanworth; William Higgins, Kildorrery; Ralph Fuller, Lismore; Joan Molan, Mitchelstown; Ann O’Leary, Fermoy; Catherine Colbert, Kilworth; Siobhan O’Mahony, Ballylanders, Joan Byrne, Lismore; Kathleen Thornhill, Fermoy; Betty Moakley, Kilworth and George Tanner, Conna.