NARGC at the Irish Game & Country Fair

[AlbertJ 569]

Amongst the many attractive and varied exhibits at the Irish Game and Country Fair at Birr Castle Co Offaly the major display by the NARGC, Ireland's largest shooting organisation, must take pride of place :

 

NARGC RETURNS TO THE IRISH GAME & COUNTRY FAIR AT BIRR, CO OFFALY

 

The NARGC will again be a major exhibitor at the Irish Game & Country Fair which takes place this year on Saturday and Sunday, 27th and 28th August respectively, in Birr Castle Demesne. NARGC will have a stand where officers and staff of the Association will be on hand to offer expert advice on all facets of shooting, conservation and on the full range of activities and benefits of being an NARGC club member.

 

A new and improved merchandise shop will be in our marquee with an extended range of merchandise available at extremely competitive prices. On hand to help purchasers will be Margaret Neile, Shane O’Connor and Ernie Beck who will be backed up by other NARGC personnel.

 

Jimmy Tyrrell’s fly-tying demonstrations will be with us again as will Jim Corcoran’s taxidermy exhibition. These two displays are always popular with visitors to the NARGC stand. An excellent display of Red, Sika and Fallow deer heads will adorn the marquee throughout, reflecting the NARGC’s formal move to represent the interests of the growing number of club members who now hunt deer.

 

Safety education has always been high on the NARGC’s agenda and this will be evident from the strong presence of Jim O’Connor and Chris Lyndsay who will conduct gun coaching clinics during the two days of the fair using a laser training system.

 

Information on the intricacies of running a Grey Partridge project will be provided by Derek O’Brien and Paddy McCartney from the Dublin RGC Partridge Project, which is funded by the NARGC. There has been growing interest in wild Partridge since the success of the Boora Grey Partridge project which was a joint venture between the NARGC and the Irish Grey Partridge Conservation Trust and managed by the NARGC. This has spawned numerous club projects around the country.

 

There will be an outdoor live game bird display hosted by Cloghan and Kilcormac Gun Clubs where many varieties of pheasants will be exhibited alongside Red Legged Partridge, Quail, ducks etc. Jimmy Christie from the Cloghan Club and Kevin Sadlier from Kilcormac Gun Club will be there to offer their extensive advice and tips in successfully rearing birds. They will also demonstrate a variety of game rearing and gamekeeping aids in use with both clubs.

 

Eastcoast Dog and Gun, a gun dealership from Wexford, will provide an interesting display of Joker hunting knives and proprietor Paul Walsh will be on hand to give advice on the most suitable knife for your needs. Mike Johnson of MacEoin General Merchants in Dingle will be on the stand with his array of shooting and game keeping equipment including, traps, incubators, decoys, feeders etc. Mike has a wealth of knowledge and will offer his expert advice on how to get the best from your equipment.

 

NARGC’s Simon Devereux will introduce the NARGC’s latest training aid and show attraction – the NARGC Laser Shooting Simulator where both young and old, shooter and non-shooter can try their shooting skills on a realistic 6’x8’ screen. Simon will also take charge of the usual stand raffle which this year sees a very big increase in the number and quality of prizes – A Browning Shotgun (Lakelands); 32” Flat Screen TV (NARGC); Joker Hunting Knife (East Coast Dog & Gun); GAMO 10x50 waterproof binoculars (Millards); 16 Egg Manual Incubator (MacEoin Gnrl Mrchts); Overnight accommodation with evening meal for two and breakfast (Kinnitty Castle Hotel).

 

Last year the vintage rifle display proved most popular with visitors to the stand and this year will see the return of this most interesting item. Among the rifles on display will be German Mausers, Lee Enfield’s and a Remington Rolling Block rifle – one of the original Creedmore guns. Vintage experts John Kavanagh, Michael O’Connor, Mike Gannon and Eamon Tynan will there to recount the history of these very nostalgic pieces.

 

Paula Malone, Secretary to National Director Des Crofton will organise a children’s art competition for 6-8 and 9-12 year olds with prizes of a children’s blow dart gun and a fishing rod and reel sponsored by East Coast Dog & Gun and Millards respectively. The competition will involve the children colouring images of game species.

 

The hugely popular on-stand game cookery demonstrations will be held over the two days of the Fair and these will be conducted by game and fish chef, Emmet McCourt. Emmet lectures in the Catering College in Derry.

 

Other presences on the NARGC stand will include National Chairman Tom O’Donnell, National Director Des Crofton, Compensation Fund Administrator Chris Gavican, Safety Officer Jim O’Connor, Secretary Barry Sullivan, Game Development Officer Ger Burns and many more - all of whom will be there to meet club members and to provide advice and information on the full scope of our activities.

 

Des and the team look forward to meeting you all.