Pedigree youngsters continue proud family traditions at show in Limerick
A FIRST-TIME visitor to the Cappamore Show cattle section might have thought they wandered into an outdoor hair salon or beauty spa.
Cattle were being combed, their backs clipped, hairdryers going full blast and all that was missing was their hooves being painted with nail varnish. You’d pay a lot of money for that level of care and attention in a hair salon.
The handlers were also out to impress in their spotless white coats, often wearing caps and one young chap was spotted sporting a dickie bow. Some had left home at 5am to be in Ballyvoreen on time.
The classes for youngsters are always special as the boys and girls lead around calves bigger than themselves like puppy dogs.
One young lady - Grace Ryan (Luke), aged 11, from Cappamore, epitomised the love for showing cattle. Grace, a daughter of Sean and Aoife, is show royalty as she is a granddaughter of the late and much-missed Paddy Ryan (Luke).
Mr Ryan will go down in history as the longest-ever secretary of any show in Ireland and probably the world. He was secretary of 60 of the 65 Cappamore Shows until his passing in 2021. Foot and Mouth disease and Covid robbed him of two more.
He was a very proud grandfather looking down on Grace on Saturday.
“This is my first year showing cattle,” Grace told the Leader.
“I enjoyed it. I like walking the calves,” she smiled.
Another young Cappamore stockperson smiling was Conor Ryan. He took home the Ollie Moore perpetual trophy for the local confined class calf with a Belgian Blue X bred by Eamon O'Donovan, also Cappamore.
“Conor won it in fairness to him,” said Eamon.
Conor, who has only been showing cattle for two years, said it was great fun and really enjoyed it. He complimented Eamon for his talent as a pedigree breeder before getting ready for another class on a busy day for the son of Sinead and Tim.
Sometimes you don't appreciate what you have until it is gone and the cattle section and the show itself was close to being called off due to Storm Betty.
National secretary of the Irish Shows Association (ISA) Jim Harrison said it was an unbelievable achievement to put on a show after Storm Betty.
“They had a meeting some time after 6am and made the decision to go ahead and didn't they make the right decision. It's great weather after a serious night’s weather. It's very good, dry land,” said Jim, who hails from Castleblayney, Co Monaghan.
He was looking forward to the FBD All-Ireland Young Stockperson Final. The junior, intermediate and senior finalists had qualified from other shows around the country.
Tadhg Hannon and Aoife Hannon did Limerick proud, befitting their last name, in the All-Ireland junior category. Jim stressed the importance of the social aspect of shows and of the stock persons making friends.
The ISA secretary also spoke of the care and love for the cattle.
“Animals actually are treated better than humans. You will go to the vet for an animal quicker than you would go to the doctor for yourself,” said Jim.
Sean Sherman, chairperson of the Pedigree Breeders Council of Ireland, judged the senior stockperson category. How does he pick the winner?
“We have arrived today at an All-Ireland competition today so I am going to be looking for perfection, both in presentation of the animals and how the youngsters present themselves to me and how equipped they are with knowledge.
“What separates the top from the second and the third? There has to be a difference. At an All-Ireland level we are looking for perfection from A to Z,” said Sean, who drew similarities with the all-conquering Limerick hurlers for the past four years.
“You don't get to the All-Ireland without being good and you won't win the All-Ireland without being excellent,” said Sean, from Rathdowney, Co Laois.
After all the cups and rosettes were presented on Saturday it was time to turn the rings and beauty salon for cattle back into green pasture. The volunteers who braved the weather to put it up were back to take it all down. And they will do the same next year as that's what agricultural shows are all about.