Dualla Show 2015

Dualla Show 2015 took place on Sunday 30th August and was a great success, attracting its biggest crowd in its short history.

The livestock section had 72 cattle and sheep classes and over €12,000 in total prize money. Three rings ran throughout the day with the highlight being the All-Ireland Junior Belgian Blue Breeding Heifer championship with a pot of €600 up for grabs. New classes were introduced this year for rare breeds, best breeding female and also a class for local handlers within a 5km radius of the show. In the sheep section, exhibitors competed in ewe, lamb, hogget and ram classes with one of the highlights being the Champion Zwartbles.

In the horse section, a fantastic grand prix showjumping event was one of the highlights of the day. All horses were catered for with classes for tiny tots, sportsmans, ponies and horses. In the horse showing section there was 15 in-hand horse classes and over 20 pony classes both ridden and lead rein (IPS and non-IPS).

Also back again this year was the Tipperary Truck Show. This year the famous “bale truck” was again rebuilt and wrapped in pink plastic in association with Cancer Research Ireland who were one of the charities supported by the show. The truck section itself featured four categories: artic, rigid, vintage (pre-1990) and custom rigs.

The dog show had 14 classes in total including a new rescue class. The fancy dress class in particular attracted huge interest with some exceptional originality shown by both dog and owner.

There was an extra emphasis this year on free kid’s activities with a secure “Kid Zone” area consisting of 9 fully free inflatables. Street entertainers mingled with the crowds performing juggling, stilt walking and mime artistry.

A special attraction on the day was six-time Irish trial-bike champion Andy Perry and his team of “trialstars” who performed feats of bravery riding motorcycles over a special Dualla Show obstacle course.

The Dog show had a record number of entrants on the day across 11 classes. In the end Judges John Smullen, Donie and Cillian Slattery handed Dog of the Show to Ray O’Connor with “Luca”, a Mastiff dog he rescued from a shelter in Dublin.

Usual favourites such as tractor pulling, tug O’war, baking competition, auction, vintage machinery display, trade and food stands and an impressive crash response re-enactment by our local Emergency Services entertained the crowds.

Beneficiaries 2015

The shows fantastic success over the past number of years have raised much needed money for local charities and community groups. Beneficiaries of the 2015 show were as follows:

  • Eddie Connolly Trust Fund
  • Helen & Sean Gleeson Fund
  • Boherlahan NS Parents Association
  • Ballytarsna NS Parents Association
  • Dualla NS Parents Association
  • Dualla St. Vincent de Paul
  • Order of Malta
  • St Patricks Brass Band
  • Boherlahan Dualla GAA
  • Rosegreen Tidy Villages
  • Cashel Day Care
  • Hope Foundation
  • Boherlahan Dualla Senior Citizens
  • Truck run for Katie – Cystic Fibrosis
  • Irish Cancer Society