MAGHERA AGRI-SHOW & COUNTRY FAYRE
Press, Sponsors & Supporters Evening
The officers and members of Maghera Agri-Show and Country Fayre are pleased to announce a major sponsor for their 2nd annual show this year on 5th August to be held in the Show Field on the Mullagh Road Maghera , by kind permission of the Presbyterian Church and William Paul. The change of venue has been prompted by the expansion of the show this year to include an additional 80 classes for Horses, Ponies and Sheep and also the interest shown by the Agri-Businesses from throughout the Province. The Home Produce, Arts & Crafts and Photography sections have been revamped to suit everyone who is interested in displaying their produce at the show.
Cunningham Covers Maghera and Naas Co Kildare, have very kindly offered to sponsor the prize fund in support of the Equestrian Section of the show. We are delighted to have Cunningham Covers on board this year and it is comforting for the organisers to know that Gordon and his team have the vision and understanding that an Agriculture Show and Country Fayre is necessary and essential for the town, not only for the Agriculture community but for all of the community locally and further afield. With sponsors’ support and voluntary helpers the show will remain in the town and on the events calendar for many years to come.
A highlight of the show this year is the Open Championship & Novice Working Hunter Horse Classes carrying a prize fund of £1000 and a perpetual Trophy to the overall champion Working Hunter. The introduction of the Sheep section at the request of a number of the local sheep breeders was added to the schedule this year. This section is very kindly sponsored by The Northern Co-op, Swatragh Livestock Mart. A range of weight classes for Mares, Foals and Riding Horses together with a number of Pony classes for the young riders is scheduled to take place. The Clydesdale Horse section featuring a Riding class is always a spectacular sight for the visitors. All Equestrian sections have with them very inviting prize money for the class winners. The vintage section again this year will be much bigger with a prize fund of £100 for the most original exhibit. A variety of trade stalls have already booked their places all of whom are making a return visit having enjoyed their time with us last year. We invite all types of businesses from the area and further afield to come along and use our show as a marketing platform for their product.
We thank all the volunteers who helped make the show a success last year. Please come along this year and be part of our team. We appreciated all the financial support from the sponsors in 2016 and trust that you will return this year. The show will be a fun day out for all the family with lots of entertainment and interests for the children and parents alike, so please come along and support us on the day and help us build on the success of the 2016 show. Further details are available by contacting the Secretary Carol Collier on 028 79549835 or 075 68548752 or James Armour (snr) 028 79549835, Mob 00353876954944. Schedules will be available to download from our website www.maghera-heritage.org and available on facebook page, maghera agri show2017. Or drop into the Heritage Centre at 17 Coleraine Road.
Swatragh And Back! That was the Sponsored- Walk-Challenge to raise funds for the Maghera Historical Society. The event was a great success with just under £1,000 raised on the day. Special thanks to Jean Dunne for organising it all so well and we are very grateful to all our sponsors and everybody who supported us. This was an amazing result and far surpassed all our expectations – so congratulations all round!
The Maghera Historical Society Perpetual Trophy Quiz took place last Thursday 27th April, in Walsh’s Hotel. Joint winners on the night were tables 6 and 7. Sinead Kelly, Eugene Kelly, Brian Kielt, Peter Convery on table 6 and Emma Stewart, George Stewart, Noel Stewart and Matthew Stewart on table 7. Congratulations to the winners!!! James Armour stood in on the night for regular Quizmaster Peter Etherson and presented the trophy to Sinead Kelly and Emma Stewart representing their team.
Another enjoyable and challenging Quiz in our monthly series was held in Walsh’s Hotel on the 30th March by the Maghera Historical Society. Once again Peter Etherson set the questions to tax our knowledge. Next month’s Quiz will be the competition for the MHS annual trophy so we look forward to welcoming a large and competitive audience.
A wonderful evening of memories and information was enjoyed by a large audience in the Heritage & Cultural Centre with the showing, by Brendan Convery, of the film ‘Farming Down the Years’. this film was made by John Thompson and followed the cycle of the corn crop from sowing to harvesting as it was done in the era before combines. Local farmer Raymond McNamee allowed the work to be carried on over a year. His brother, Michael McNamee, together with Tommie Doherty worked on the film. Both men have sadly passed away since and the evening was held in their memory.
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