Ballyshannon Show has a long history of providing
competition and entertainment for the community and still continues to the
present day. Great credit is due to the committees who have
kept the show going through many challenging times. Many will recall this very
important social occasion held for years in Danby and which ranked alongside the
Harvest Fair as the two biggest events where town and country gathered to
celebrate. The competitions in the cattle, sheep, horses and agricultural
classes helped to improve standards of production and great pride was also evident in the
winners of home baking, vegetables, craft and flower competitions. Until recent times international horse riders
competed at the prestigious showjumping events which was part of the
agricultural show at Britton’s of Danby. Most important of all was the
social occasion and the novelty events
such as tug of war which enthused the audience in bygone days. A show dance was
also a highlight of the Agricultural Show and indeed the writer remembers his
first dance at the show.
Charlie Mc Gettigan’s
Show Memories
Charlie Mc Gettigan who went on to win the Eurovision
Song contest in 1994 with Paul Harrington made his first public performance
accidentally at Ballyshannon Show. His father, Pat Mc Gettigan who ran a
grocery business in Main Street, was helping out with the amplification for the
Ballyshannon Show at Danby. He wanted to test the system and asked his son to
sing a song. Charlie sang Catch a Falling
Star, little realising that it was going out over the show grounds on his
first public performance. Charlie and John Hannigan developed a musical
friendship, and along with Michael Dalton and Jimmy Rafferty formed a group
called Sound Storms and were later joined by Danny Kerrigan. They practised in the basement of the
Market House, played at local gigs such as relief band in the Astoria and at
the Show dance where they had to pay to get in! They were playing relief to
Paddy Mc Cafferty’s Band at the Show dance but that didn’t impress the ticket
sellers at the entrance to the dance!
 |
| The Travers family at the Show in Danby |
The First
Agricultural Shows 1895-1896
The Show can trace its
roots back to 1895 when the first Ballyshannon Agricultural Association Show
was held. The following year there were 220 entries with increased entries from the first show in
the yearling and three year old colts or fillies, ponies under 14 hands, bulls,
cows, rams, ewes, pigs and poultry. Butter, eggs, homespuns and honey were also
exhibited and the care taken in quality and presentation was to benefit
the agricultural industry. The 1896 show took place in two
venues. The produce was displayed in the market square (Market yard) and in the
afternoon the horse jumping , tug-of- war, driving competitions (horse and
car) and
other events in the Rock field.
Some local winners in different categories in 1896
were- Edward Vaughan, Dunmuckrum, best bull, C. J. Tredennick, best dairy cow,
George Moore, Ballinacarrick, best heifer, Thomas J. Atkinson, best heifer,
Patterson Morrow, The Abbey, best bull, James Cassidy, Coolcholly ,best dairy
cow, Robert Myles ,best heifer, Dan Campbell, Kileen, best bull, John Anderson,
Ballyshannon, best heifer, T. Gallagher West Port, best heifer, Peter Mc
Cafferty, Cashelard, best bull, Michael Gillespie, The Abbey best heifer, Hugh
Mulrine, Market Street, best cow, Daniel Kerrigan, Dunmuckrum, best heifer, Ms.
Bridget Durneen, Higginstown, best ewes. The show jumping took place in a
splendid enclosed field close to the Workhouse and had three classes with total
prize money of £32 – quite a sum in 1896. The tug-of-war was the final event of
the day and caused great excitement with the local teams from Myles’ timber yards
and McAdams, Donegal Vindicator newspaper, pitting their strength against the Dorsets
from the Rock Army Barracks. McAdams won the event and held the bragging rights
until the next show.
The Show goes on
Ballyshannon Agricultural Show can trace its origins
back to 1895 and every August an active committee are continuing this tradition with their revived 25th anniversary in Tunney’s field on the Donegal road. Improving standards in the breeding of
cattle, sheep, horses and poultry, together with home industries and arts and
crafts were always at the heart of the competitions at the Agricultural Show.
Today the show is a mecca for local people and visitors who carefully watch the
judging competitions for all types of animals and who are attracted by the dog
show, the live music, and the bonnie baby competition. Lots of novelty events,
face-painting, quads and bouncy castles ensure that the Agricultural Show is
moving with the times as well as maintaining the standards of the past 120
years. The Agricultural Show today is one of the oldest and most successful
community events in the area and is on this Sunday 18th August.
A Local History Book suitable for those at Home and Away
"Ballyshannon.
Genealogy and History" reveals newly
researched history and genealogy of the town, extending as far as the
Rossnowlagh, Cashelard, Corlea, Clyhore, Higginstown and Finner areas.
Includes the parishes of Kilbarron and Magh Ene.
- The genealogy material provides detailed guidelines for anyone tracing their roots in the area or anywhere in County Donegal or Ireland. The book contains 500 pages and is richly illustrated with stunning colour, aerial photography, original illustrations and rare photographs of the area not seen before.
- It includes much new material on the independence struggle which is being remembered throughout Ireland. It also contains the full story of The Green Lady which was performed in Ballyshannon to great acclaim.
- Available in A Novel Idea, and Local Hands in Ballyshannon and 4 Masters Bookshop Donegal Town. Also available from Anthony Begley for postal enquiries email anthonyrbegley@hotmail.com
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