Tinahely Agricultural Show 2022

Following a two year enforced break due to covid restrictions, Tinahely show roared into life again on bank holiday Monday, August 1st 2022, much to the delight of the facilitators, exhibitors and the many visitors. The show - which is one of the country’s largest, attracting over 20,000 visitors and 400 trade exhibitors - aims to capture the essence of rural Ireland and East Coast Samaritans were once again very happy to be in attendance with a stall raising awareness of the work we do.

The area was packed with visitors enjoying the various activities and trade stands. Besides the livestock competitions, additional attractions included a craft village, pet show, home industries, junior crafts, quilts, vintage, equestrian, pony games, funfair, polo cross, tractor pulling and bale throwing. This year’s music was provided by Michael English and his band, Stuart Moyles, Stacy Breen and also Theresa & The Stars, with many people taking to the custom-made dance floor to enjoy the entertainment to its fullest.

As the pictures show, East Coast Samaritan volunteers were alternately baked and then soaked throughout the day as the weather turned out to be somewhat ‘changeable’! Undeterred however, we continued raising vital awareness by giving out pens, wristbands, cards and leaflets to everyone that passed our stand.

Besides bringing the collection buckets along with us, we also held a raffle to help raise vital funds for the branch in Arklow, Co. Wicklow, and we are very grateful to everyone who took the trouble to offer donations to us. The raffle included some absolutely amazing prizes which were all supplied by local businesses and we would also like thank each and every one of them for their generous support. The prizes included: an amazing luxury hamper, €100 gift voucher, smokeless grill, €50 voucher, beauty hamper, gentleman's wrist watch, ladies wristwatch, dog food, two bottles of wine and a small beauty hamper.

Tickets were available until around 4.30 pm, after which a lady from the crowd was delighted to draw the tickets so that the winners could be announced, contacted by phone, and arrangements made for them to collect their prizes.