Clogher Valley Show has brought the curtain down on another summer calendar of farming events in Northern Ireland.
And, by common consent, the show marked a fitting end to what is generally considered to have been one of the most successful agricultural show seasons in many years.
Northern Ireland Shows Association (NISA) chairperson, Brian Lockhart told Agriland: “The crowds came out, the weather held up, competing livestock numbers just keep on increasing, and the messaging around the significance of our farming and food sectors continues to be communicated.
“And we have got to build on all of this for the future.”
The NISA chairperson noted that Armagh Show was the only event that did not enjoy good weather in 2025, but added that “even here the turnout of the general public was tremendous”.
“And all of this has been achieved on the back of the voluntary commitment made by so many people..
“Adding to this has been the growing commitment of farming organisations and commercial business sponsors to the shows.
“A case in point was the tremendous support given by the Ulster Farmers’ Union to all the NISA events held this summer. The organisation took a trade stand at each show venue.”
DAERA support
Looking ahead, Lockhart is adamant the the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) must strategically support all the local agricultural shows taking place in Northern Ireland.
He explained: “Large numbers of volunteers worked diligently to organise the series of local farming shows held at venues across Northern Ireland throughout the summer months.
“But our costs keep rising. Insurance is one: compliance with health and safety legislation is another. And this is just the tip of the iceberg.”
According to the NISA chairperson, Northern Ireland is now the only region of the UK and Ireland where core government funding is not provided to support local agricultural shows.
Lockhart said: “The Irish government currently provides €1 million of core funding to local agricultural shows on an annual basis.
“This is topped by additional money from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, which is specifically made available to provide prize funding for a wide range of competition classes.”
He emphasised that Northern Ireland’s local agricultural shows provide a tremendous shop window for the local farming and food industries.
He said: “These events attract many thousands of people – year-in, year-out. All of this activity is also adding to local economises in a more than meaningful way.
“Local show societies have histories that stretch back, in some cases, over 150 years. And they continue to play a key role at the very heart of the farming and food sectors.
“But none of this can be taken for granted into the future. Fermanagh Show did not take place last year, and this is because of the funding challenges facing the show society at that time.”
