There has been a great reaction locally to the announcement this week that Fermanagh County Show will have a new home in 2023.

Organisers of the Show, County Fermanagh Farming Society Ltd, which was established in 1836, made the announcement on Monday (January 9) that the two-day event will be staged at Castle Irvine, Necarne, near Irvinestown with new weekend dates of Friday, August 11 and Saturday, August 12.

“It’ll be great to have it in Necarne – it’s a great facility to have in Irvinestown and it’s good to see it being used to its full potential,” said Irvinestown hotelier Joe Mahon on the news that the Show is moving to Castle Irvine, Necarne, commenting that it will have a positive impact on the local area.

The Chairman of Fermanagh Farming Society, Ann Orr, explained that the new showgrounds and new weekend dates offer lots of new opportunities for the popular County Show – the last agricultural show in the Northern Ireland Shows Association calendar.

She said: “In 13 years the County Fermanagh Farming Society will celebrate its 200th anniversary – no mean feat for a rural organisation managed by volunteers.

“Generations of local families have their heart in Fermanagh County Show and have seen much change over their lifetimes, and that of their ancestors.

“Moving from the Fairgreen and the Broadmeadow in 1994 to the new showgrounds at Lackaboy was a key move to grow the show further, to add new elements, as we were allowed to use the facilities of the Exhibition and Auction Centre along with our own fabulous Prunty Pitch showgrounds.

“The Johnston family have been instrumental in their wholehearted support of the Society since 1950, and this has been a very strong partnership, of which we are very proud.

“We know that Covid-19 impacted all agricultural shows, but it was this affect that actually brought about the mindset that we have 187 years under our belt and a 200th anniversary on the horizon to plan for – and what better way to do this than to grasp this wonderful opportunity offered to us recently to grow Fermanagh County Show into one of Ireland’s leading agricultural shows of the future?”

Kyle Porter, spokesperson for Castle Irvine Estate, said: “We are thrilled to welcome the Fermanagh County Show to Castle Irvine Estate in 2023.

“The show is a highly-regarded event in the community, with a history dating back to 1836, and we are excited to provide a new home for it at Castle Irvine.

“The facilities and rolling parkland, along with the magnificent backdrop of Necarne Castle, offer a unique setting for the show to continue to thrive and grow in the future.”

The last full Fermanagh County Show took place in 2019 with a scaled-back event taking place last August.

The plans for 2023 are for a full programme of pedigree and commercial cattle, sheep, goats, poultry, dogs, schools, home industries and with a larger Food Pavilion.

The pilot Classic Suckler Competition and Breeding Heifer Derby held last year was a great success and this will be continued as a herd competition for Fermanagh suckler farmers for non-pedigree stock. Herd judging will take place in early July, and the best herds will qualify for the final at Castle Irvine on Saturday, August 12.

The large indoor arena, the outdoor arena and walled garden will be ideal to accommodate large exhibits while the lawn at the front of the iconic Necarne Castle will provide a spectacular area for the livestock judging rings.

Two courtyards will provide a great site for street food and music and with more space available to extend the popular Food Pavilion.

The rolling parkland on the estate also provides many potential opportunities to expand the Show programme in the next few years.

A brief history of Fermanagh County Show

There have been many agricultural shows around Fermanagh over the past century and beyond, but Fermanagh Farming Society – organisers of the Fermanagh County Show – has remained throughout.

Their first Fermanagh County Show was held in Enniskillen on September 9, 1837 in the new market yard.

In 1902, the Society was presented with the Farmers’ Challenge Cup – the most coveted trophy awarded each year – by Mr. T. M. Hilliard of New York, who had family connections in Trory. It is traditionally presented to the winner of the All-Ireland Dairy Cow Championship.

In 1924, two separate events were held: an agricultural show on September 5, and a second show on September 19 for flowers, vegetables, fruit and industrial exhibits.

The Show was held at the Fairgreen (now occupied by Dunnes Stores) and previously used as the Ulster Farmers’ Mart from the 1950s until 1994 when the Show (along with the mart) moved to the site at Lackaboy, where it has been held since until last year.

The 150th show took place in 1985. In 1990, a vintage tractor and machinery display was held for the first time, and has been a staple since. Cookery demonstrations were also introduced. In 1999, the Show moved to dates in early August and incorporated a Food Hall, which has been expanded in the years since.