A note of welcome from our Chairman

Dear Friends
We are back in action and rolling full steam ahead for our Show on Sunday 10th August. All going well, we plan a very full day of activities and, if you want to see everything, you will need to arrive early to the showgrounds.

The 2008 Schedule
More sections, more classes and more prize money - these are the essence of our 2008 Schedule. A competitive goat section has been added this year as well as two new All Ireland Finals - one in poultry and a Country Markets All Ireland based in the Horticultural Marquee. These are just some of the ideas
that we endeavour to incorporate into the Show every year and the continued aim of the Show is to keep progressing to higher standards.

As you can see our prize money has now topped the €160,000 mark. This has all come from our sponsors, some of whom are new this year but most have been with us for many years. Where would we be without them? All this money will go to our exhibitors, the people who are the kernel of our Show - the heart and soul of our Show.

Our Welcome
We extend a huge welcome to both of these groups. I know there are many members in each group but, as always, it is the sum of the parts that makes up the whole. Each individual member of both groups is of vital importance to us. No matter how big or how small, their involvement is of equal importance and I hope we treat them all on an equal and fair basis. We welcome also the many other groups who are part of our Show - trade stand holders, the state services, our thousands of spectators and so on. All are brought together through many months of work by the 37 members of our Show Executive and approximately 400 stewards.

With the continued help of our main sponsor, AIB Bank, I look forward to meeting you all in the beautiful setting of Charleville Estate on Show Day.

Tom Maher
Chairman