BREAKING: Tanaiste to open Tullamore Show as Taoiseach cancels

TANAISTE Simon will officially open this Sunday's Tullamore Show and FBD National Livestock Show as the Taoiseach Micheal Martin has had to cancel due to other engagements.

The official opening will take place at 12 noon on the Butterfield Estate at Blueball and the Taoiseach had been scheduled to perform the event.

The Tanaiste will be joined at the opening by the two Ministers of State at the Department of Agriculture, Noel Grealish and Michael Healy Rae.

Agriculture Minister, Martin Heydon will be unavoidably absent revealed the new Show Chairman, John Keena who took up the position at the AGM of the Executive earlier this year.

Mr Keena is looking forward to a highly successful event and he said the site was in a superb condition and the weather forecast was favourable.

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He revealed show organisers had decided to keep all prices for punters at the same level as last year even though the cost of staging the show has increased considerably.

Mr Keena said steps have also been taken to ensure that the traffic and car park problems which occurred last year due to the unprecedented attendance are not repeated.

He added that entries had increased in virtually all classes and there was a special emphasis on green energy in the Sustainable Village area.

Speaking to the Tribune on the Bank Holiday Monday evening, the Show chief said a tented city was coming into place on the Butterfield Estate and he extended thanks to the huge array of volunteers who had put their shoulders to the wheel.

Up to 60,000 people are expected to attend the event which boasts a prize fund of €175,000.

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The Sustainable Livestock Village returns and this year places a strong emphasis on the role of young farmers in delivering sustainable change, with Macra na Feirme joining the Village for the first time to highlight generation renewal and youth-led innovation.

There will be a host of events and attractions for all the family with Patrick Feeney topping the bill in the entertainment section, taking to the stage from 4pm to 6pm.

The FBD National Livestock Show will finish on a high with the parade of champions at about 4.30pm.