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Irish Game & Country Fair Birr


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In spite of facing the worst that the 'Irish Summer' could throw at us the fair once again was a huge success. By far the largest and most successful event of its kind in the south of Ireland and with Shanes Castle Fair worthy of the title of one of the Great Game Fairs of Ireland. We had a great range of stands including many new sporting ones and a great range of gun, tackle and clothing stands, great competitions, good prizes and magnificent support from the major sporting organisations. Sunday hit a record attendance for any game or country fair in Ireland with superb support for our competitions. Clay shooting entries ran at a record level, great entries for the terrier, whippet and lurchers and a wonderful digging championship with four or five hundred spectators. The highlights of the fair were filmed by both www.dogandcountrytv.com and www.fieldsportschannel.tv

 

Our traders did their bit by all having many special offers and bargains and virtually all reported good business - including some being very frank and stating your purchases had helped save their businesses after a number of events having been cancelled.

 

Plans are already afoot for a bigger and more exciting fair next year on the 30th,31st August and the 1st of September 2013 - yes a real three day country lifestyle festival - full details to follow.

 

Thanks to the six Irish terrier, whippet and lurcher judges who demonstrated that it is not only UK judges who can do a good job!

 

Thank you again for your support,

 

Albert

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Albert, it was great to be a small part of what was a great day.

My job wasn't easy as the standard was high with plenty of working terriers for me to look at.

I enjoyed every minute of it.

 

Albert, as the game fair and show season draws to a close can I personally thank you for the support you have shown and given to the newly formed Irish Working Terrier Federation.

You've been behind us from day one and deserve a big thank you from all involved.

Best wishes,

Neil.

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I atended the fair on saturday I enjoyed the day immensly, but I must say the angling section was very poor this year. The absence of some of the usual traders was noticable, maybe it is due to the high costs of trade stands at the show a lot of work will have to be done to rectify this for future years if the show is to continue to be succesful.

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how did the rise campain go?????

It was a bit of a strange one BIG G - people didn't seem to be sure what it was all about. There were still hundreds in the arena - eventually - but could have been more.

There were literally thousands of people up around the show rings and clay shoot - but it was a bit of a walk down for the sake of a 50 yard march and the competitions were still in full swing up there.

 

I have no doubt that the same idiots that won't bother reading up on the current situation - that won't join the likes of the IWTF - and that couldn't be bothered taking part in Sunday's march - will be the ones shouting the loudest about how we all did nothing when in the future some TD uses this upcoming Animal Health and Welfare Bill against us.

 

 

As I said in another thread I was very impressed with the whole fair - I've been recommending it to everyone today as a great family day out and well worth the trip up.

Maybe next year I will get someone else to drive and pay an aul visit to the beer tent for a few hours ;)

Edited by Corkonian
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i was in birr sunday enjoyed the day as i always do when i go to birr i cant comment on the terrier r the lurcher judge as i was showing whippets i thought the whippet judge was very professional and very fair it was the only show i was at where whippets were put on the table i also think terriers should be put on the table to b judged looking forward to birr next year if god spears me

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Thanks albert and the great gamefairs for letting me run the final at bir for the all ireland digging and well done to all the competitors and the winners,and thanks especially to you and all the sponsers of the prizes for the final as it gets harder to get help as the time goes on.congrats on a brilliant fair. Y,I,S kieran

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I atended the fair on saturday I enjoyed the day immensly, but I must say the angling section was very poor this year. The absence of some of the usual traders was noticable, maybe it is due to the high costs of trade stands at the show a lot of work will have to be done to rectify this for future years if the show is to continue to be succesful.

 

Surprised to hear this viewpoint as the only regular angling exhibitors missing were Pat Nolan who was replaced with Morrbrook Lodge - a Hardy Grey Specialist - can you get better quality than that? and the ESB! We had two boat companies, Loop Tackle, White O'Morn, Philip Neeson, a great stand from Ultimate tackle and Celtic Flycraft plus a major pavilion with FISSTA, APGAI and other angling orientated organisations plus tackle on a number of other stands - in short no other fair in Ireland came any where near the range on display. BUT we have additional plans for 2013. Watch this space.

 

PS and our stands are about one third of those at the angling shows!

Edited by AlbertJ
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