The potential for agricultural shows in Northern Ireland to partner with societies south of the border has been highlighted.
The driver for such development is the funding available under the aegis of the Change Maker Funding Programme, part of the cross-border PEACEPLUS initiative.
Irish Shows Association (ISA) national secretary, Jim Harrison, highlighted this initiative at the launch of Newry Show 2025.
The Change Maker Funding Programme will distribute €40 million over the next three years to support people-to-people projects on a cross-community and/or cross-border basis.
It will make awards of up to €100,000 for specific projects.
Harrison said: “The Irish government provides €1 million of core funding to support ISA events on an annual basis.
“I find it hard to believe that the Stormont Executive cannot take a similar approach when it comes to supporting agricultural shows taking place in Northern Ireland.
“I am aware that many of the local councils in the north support the agricultural shows taking place in their area. But this happens south of the border as well.”
Newry Show chairperson, Brian Lockhart, is also chair of the Northern Ireland Shows Association (NISA).
He said: “An NISA deputation recently met with representatives of the Stormont Agriculture Committee.
“The politicians were told of the important role played by the shows as a platform for the farming and food sectors and also at community level.
“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.”
Lockhart went on to point out that 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.
He added: “But none of this can be taken for granted into the future. Fermanagh Show did not take place last year because of the funding challenges facing the show society at that time.”
Role of agricultural shows
The NISA chairperson also referenced the key role that NISA members play in helping to communicate the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) sustainability agenda into the future.
”We want to work closely with DAERA on this and other matters,” Lockhart said.
“The local shows represent the perfect vehicle for the changes taking place across the farming and food sectors at the present time to be communicated to the general public.
“But it is imperative for DAERA core funding to be made available to all the local show societies across Northern Ireland. And that clock is ticking.”
