After days of uncertainty with the weather forecast, Saturday 11th August saw the gloom of the week replaced by the sun and thousands of visitors descended on the ever popular Ardara Show!By noon the two areas at Sandfield, made available by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, were packed. With livestock in one area and the marquee, trade stands, dog show and entertainment – featuring Ireland Got Talent very own Mini Puppet Pop Stars – in another, the event provided a key day of attractions for visitors from the locality and from much further afield.Chairman, Michael Molloy, said: “The livestock classes were well supported with particular increases in the sheep and horse sections. A packed marquee displayed over 1,000 entries which contributed to the overall success of the 2018 show.”
Official opening
The Ardara Show was officially opened by The Gavigan Family as the late Pat Gavigan was a long serving stalwart in the Ardara Show and it was an honour to have his family open the event in 2018.The quality of entries in the sixty class livestock section brought praise from the judges, as did entries in the marquee where 120 classes included cooking, garden produce, needlework, crafts, home-made wine, photography, painting and a children’s section.There was an impressive display of vehicles by the Mid-West Donegal Vintage Club, and birds of prey were presented by Pedro Soltani. The well supported dog show, sponsored by Pedro Pet Foods, brought entries from the local area and as far afield as the UK.In its second year our very popular Mega Raffle saw the 1st prize of a Reg Pedigree Limousin Heifer make its way to Dublin to Amy Fitzmaurice.Show night finished in the wee hours of Sunday Morning in the Nesbitt Arms Hotel with dancing to the ever popular Sean McMonagle.
Winners on the Day:
Horse & Pony:
Champion Horse: Charmaine Kee, Killygordon
Champion Pony: Conal Watters, Ardara
Cattle Confined Section:
Champion Calf and Champion Animal: Martin Shovlin, Brenter.
Reserve Animal: Anthony Sweeney, Tullycleave, Ardara
Reserve Champion Calf: Martin McNelis, Brackey, Ardara
Cattle Open Section:
Champion Animal: Martin & Colm Harold,
Reserve Champion Animal: Martin Shovlin, Brenter
Pedigree Charolais Section:
Donegal Charolais Championship Champion: John McElchar, Lifford.
Donegal Charolais Championship Reserve Champion: Harold & Bobby Given, Ardara.
Sheep Section:
2018 All Ireland Ecofleece Ewe Lamb Champion: Eimear Curran, Muff, Co. Donegal
Champion Sheep Confined Blackfaced: Danny Kennedy
Champion Sheep Open Blackfaced: Danny Kennedy
Champion Sheep Open Crossbred: Christopher Johnston, St. Johnstons
Champion Sheep Confined Crossbred: Kevin McCabe, Ardara
Champion Sheep Open Lanark: Donal Breslin, Monargan
Champion Sheep Open Pedigree: Hughie Mooney, Ardara
Marquee – Rose of the Show:
The Lake House Hotel, Narin
Pedro Top Dog of the Show:
Colin Nugent, Armagh
