The Great Games Fairs of Ireland & Country Lifestyle Festival week ending 15thand 16thJune 2019, at Ballybrit Race Course, Co Galway.

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The Great Games Fairs of Ireland & Country Lifestyle Festival week ending 15^thand 16^thJune 2019, at Ballybrit Race Course, Co Galway. 

 

In Country Galway by the sea, in the shadow of the wild atlantic way lies the beautiful Ballybrit Race Course. On this historical site, the first racing festival took place on 17th August 1869 where it is believed 40,000 people turned up to watch this grand event. The racecourse measures one and a half miles long and excelles any other course in Ireland. Ballybrit has a long and exciting history and has become what is now one of the most famous tracks in the world. This was the new venue for The Great Games Fairs of Ireland & Country Lifestyle Festival week ending 15^thand 16^thJune 2019. And what a weekend that was.

After a 162 mile journey following our lead driver Maurice Mc Dowell, who we meet on our way down and was our guiding light, we arrived save and sound at the race course at 10.00am. 

Although the weather was not kind to us, this did not dampen the spirits of the good Country Sports people who came out from all areas of Country life to attend this big event. 

It was not long to we were browsing around the many stands and attractions that this brilliant Game Fair had to offer. The Mourne Clothing Company had some fine Country wear on display, as did my old favourites Charlie Keenan, Edinburgh Clothing Company and Barbour. There were Clay pigeon shooting, Gun Dogs, Dog shows, amusements, and ice cream and swetties stands for the Children. Everything for a good family day out. Retail therapy at an end, hunger took over, so we treated ourselves to some of the tasty food on offer on the site.

The sun shone bright to early afternoon, but all of a sudden the sky darkened and the heavens opened. And that it did. But the show must go on. Time passes so quickly, it was soon time to head back to the show ring and our high light of the day, the dog show.

Here are the Championship Results for Showing.

Champion Whippet

Raphael O Reilly with Sky

Champion Lurcher

Mark Dupplaw with Booty

Reserve Champion

Tina Morrissey with Eddie

Champion Terrier

Keith Breen with Busker

Reserve Champion 

Eamo Mc Erlain with Spooky

Champion Puppy

Niall O Cloghan with Ryder

 

Congratulations to all above winners, hope to see Whippet/Lurcher/Terrier, all at Shanes Castle for the 5 Nations Championships on Sunday  30^thJune.

And Finally, may I take this opportunity to thank the judges, who stood out in the pouring rain and judged so fair and efficiently on the day.

Whippets

 Jim Dalton

Lurchers

Niall Healey

Terriers

Jed Brady 

And Finally, Finally, many thanks to Tom Barry and his wife Leanne and their back up team for running the dog show so smoothly despite the heavy rain, and also everybody that stood in the ring. A lot of hard work goes into running and organising these shows, and thank you for that.

What comes to mind when a dream comes true. Hard work , sleepless nights, a brilliantly successful Game Fair and Country Lifestyle Festival, and a new venue. Many thanks again to Albert Titterington, the  rock in his life his wife  Irene, and Co Directors for another great Game Fair weekend in the pleasant countryside of County Galway. 

Onward and upward, and on to the daddy of them all, yes Shanes Castle Game Fair, Saturday 29^thJune and 30^thJune 19.

See you all there

 

Margaret Mc Stay

Edited June 20, 2019 by appleblossom