Action from the 2018 show ring with photos courtesy of MARIA KELLY PHOTOGRAPHY. Please take time to have a look at all the action from the 2018 Show Ring - album available further below

What a difference a year makes as autumn sunshine cast its glow on the 2018 National Dairy Show, a far cry from the
storms that heralded the Show in 2017.
And what a Show! Crowds gathered from early in the morning to see what the 36th Show had to offer and they were
not to be disappointed with a record number of trade exhibitors taking stands together with Tractor demonstrations,
hoof paring, health and safety demonstrations, small animal farm and the best of dairy cows – all this along with the
chance to meet and greet internet sensations, “The 2 Johnnies” who also stopped by to check out what the Show had to offer.
Show Director, John Kirby said “I think this has been one of our best shows ever with certainly the largest number of
trade exhibitors and with a varied programme of events offering something for everyone has led to record numbers
attending our annual Show this year”.
The 2018 cattle programme certainly didn’t disappoint with many first-rate animals on display culminating with the
announcement of another win for Limerick in 2018 with the Irish Examiner National Dairy Show Supreme Champion awarded to Milliedale Dusk Rhapsody EX 95, owned by Donal & Kathleen Neville from Croagh, Co. Limerick. This 5th calved cow had earlier won the mature cow class and was champion of Charleville and reserve champion Baileys during the summer. Reserve Champion at the Millstreet Show was Laurelm Fever Brilliant VG 89 a second calver owned by Ricky & John Barrett Ballinhassig, Co. Cork, Boyd, Greenan, O’Neill, Timlin and Moore were an honourable mention with Drumlina Atwood Megan. Congratulations to them and to everyone involved on the day including the ring stewards, MCs and all support personnel and of course, Edward Griffiths, Show Judge who travelled from Yorkshire to take on the mammoth task of judging all the classes from morning to late afternoon, with everyone from competitors to the general public appreciating his explanation of how he selected his winners in each category.
Cattle were not the only winners at the 2018 Show with awards announced also for the National Dairy Show Innovation Award. Gold in the Scientific Category was awarded to Micromax for “Mistral Dairy”, with the gold Engineering award announced as Cormac Tagging with their “Tissue Sample Wristband”, gold in the Technology section went to Herdwatch for their “Farm Medicine Scanner” with a delighted Herdwatch team also announced as the overall winners of the 2018 Innovation Award.  The National Recognition Award was a popular choice with John O’Flynn receiving the accolade on the day and who was there with his delighted family to receive the honour. Connaught Agri with their fantastic display of products were also overjoyed with their Best Trade Stand at the Show award.
Many thanks to Seán Kelly, MEP who took time out of his busy schedule to perform the official opening of the Show as he acknowledged the support and hard work of the farming community and its particular anxieties with Brexit looming on the horizon. John Kirby sincerely thanked Mr. Kelly for giving of his time on the afternoon and also acknowledged the attendance of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, T.D, John also stated, “the event is organised every year by a voluntary committee under the auspices of the Cork Holstein Friesian Club and with the significant costs involved would not be possible without the sponsors and trade stand exhibitors who continue to support the Show and whose contribution facilitates the Show committee offering a varied programme and also allows the event to maintain its €30,000 prize fund”.
With attendance figures of over 4,500 the 36th National Dairy Show will be remembered as the most successful to date.  In thanking the sponsors, trade and cattle exhibitors and the participants of the diverse demonstrations Show Director John Kirby expressed his delight at the success of the event and complimented his hard working and dedicated committee by stating it was a team effort and everybody could be justifiably proud of their contribution to a fantastic day. He also thanked the public for turning up in large numbers and hoped everybody would be returning for another vast and varied programme in 2019.
Please check out www.nationaldairyshow.com for information and updates and don’t forget you can also follow on
Facebook, Instagram and Twitter where you can find out more about plans for the 2019 Show.