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This is a partial reproduction
of the the "1984 Brochure".
It was first published to seek and raise funds for the purchase
of eight acres as Show Grounds at the cost of £16,000.
Hugely successful, this fundraising exercise put Iverk Show Ltd.
on a firm financial footing with its own grounds,
and this, for generations to come,
will be seen as one of the Barony's finest hours.
Sections not included here are already included in the History Section.
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IVERK
(Est. 1826)
IRELAND'S OLDEST SHOW
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IVERK - THE BARONY MEETING
1984
THURSDAY, 6th SEPTEMBER
£10,000 IN PRIZEMONEY
PHONE : 051-43121
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We
take this opportunity of expressing the sympathy of the Society to the relatives
of the following members who died recently:
Jimmy
Purcell: A revival year enthusiast.
As a steward in the Horse Section for over thirty years, his replacement
will not be easy.
Richard
Moran: A dedicated steward in the Cattle Section for over twenty
years.
Mrs. Josie Wall: Her contribution as Supervisor in the Raffle Tent was a major factor in the ever-increasing takings in that section over the past few years.
RICHARD
KEATING “The Baron Of Iverk”
Always to the forefront in community activity,
Richard as assistant Secretary in the seventies
and again in his role as “Host” on show day played a major part in the continued
success of the show.
RICHARD HOGAN P.C. Vice-President
Selected as Vice-President in 1982.
Richie is a mine of information on the Barony meetings of old.
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To......To Each Show Well-Wisher ...
A
Chara,
The recent
offering for sale of portion of the show grounds posed a major problem for
the society.
Finding a suitable alternate venue was not on, and the survival of
The Committee
unanimously decided to bid for the eight acres in question and eventually
the field was purchased for £16,000.
The Show
Committee funds are however, much depleted, following on their recent extension
to the show shed plus their building four complete sets of jumps and the
provision of additional canvas covering for exhibit stands.
A fund-raising
appeal is now being launched to raise the balance due as the deposit has
already been put up by individual subscription from committee members.
Within the
Barony of Iverk the appeal will mean a house to house collection.
Individuals, organisations and firms associated with the Barony Meeting
will also be invited to participate.
Any donation
is acceptable and will be acknowledged.
Subscribers names will be recorded in the Society’s books and will
be published in the ‘84 catalogue.
As a gesture,
each £5 subscribed will entitle the donor to a ticket for our free post-appeal
raffle, for which draw £1,000 has been already allocated. (See back for
details).
This appeal
if sufficiently funded will ensure the continuation of the Iverk
Show on a firm financial footing in its own ground and future generations
will record this successful effort as the Barony’s finest hour.
Yours Sincerely,
JOHN
O’SHEA & EAMON MEADE
(Chairman and Secretary of Field Fund Sub-Committee.)
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IVERK'S CHAIRMEN
LOUIS DOWLEY
1947. As Chairman of Muintir na
Tire, he directed the successful indoor show in 1951.
He was the unanimous choice as Chairman of the Revival Committee
and acted in that capacity till his death in 1966.
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ROBERT
DOWLEY
1966
– 1978. Robert’s contribution was of major proportions.
His dedication, optimism and good humour endeared him to all.
His untimely death came as a great shock, not only to the Show Committee,
but to his legion of friends everywhere.
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TOM
FIELDING
1978 – 1981. Tom Fielding took over in 1978.
The challenge to maintain the image set by his predecessor was a major
one,
but Tom’s experience as Chairman of the Co. Council stood him in good stead.
During his 3 year span, the show under his guidance, continued to expand.
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THOMAS
KINSELLA
The dark horse when elected to the chair in 1981.
Those who knew him knew his worth.
He had completed the impossible - the building of four complete sets of
jumps which were valued by the Chairman of the Irish Shows Association at
£15,000 at least.
The contribution of those whose tractors ferried the poles to Fiddown,
those who helped at the skinning and painting, the talented few experts
who worked the saws,
night in night out, and even the rank and filers who turned up to lend encouragement,
all played their part in this greatest achievement to date.
The extension to the show shed followed as did so many amenities of all
kinds.
His organising the arrangements for the All-Ireland Brood Mare Final last
year
earned high praise from the Irish Show Directors and from the Paris based
Martell representatives at the final in Piltown last September.
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WILLIE
HENNEBRY
No super levy worries for the ever popular Willie Hennebry,
Show Secretary,
1924
– 1938. Assistant Secretary in the revival years.
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JACK
DUCGAN, BELLINE
Jack
was the mainspring in the revival effort.
His enthusiasm knew no bounds.
Always an optimist, he succeeded in getting committee members to see things
his way.
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And now …. from The Chairman
For
the first time in the 157 years of its existence,
the Iverk Show is appealing to you, our well-wishers,
for financial support for the purchase of two fields (8 acres) adjoining
the show grounds proper. This land is of vital importance to the successful
running of Iverk Show.
As
Chairman, I would state that the decision was not taken lightly,
and had the unanimous support of our Committee.
In passing, I would thank the sub-committee for producing this brochure.
I trust their efforts will pay big dividends.
Yours
Sincerely,
THOMAS
KINSELLA.
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…and .... from The Secretary
Acquiring a suitable venue for the staging of our Annual Show is not new.
This was our target ever since our revival.
At last, an opportunity arose and the committee have taken an unanimous decision.
Raising the balance due is just another challenge.
Knowing
the dedication of our members, I am quite confident their efforts will be
successful.
J. O’DONOGHUE.
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First in!
Ever before our “going public,” the Kilmoganny Harriers Supporters’
Club chipped in.
Here we see Michael Curran accepting a cheque on behalf of the Show from
Ned Hayes,
Chairman, Supporters’ Club,
while on left Tom Reid looks quite pleased at the outcome.
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No Border
In
latter years, the number of competitors crossing the Border is remarkable.
Last year of the sixty-four ponies in the £500 Jumping Event, no fewer than
fourteen were from
We have had quite a number of showing ponies also, and with the £2,500 Martell-sponsored
Brood Mare final last year, the second prize went to Co. Down.
Also our Northern Judges, who are well known in Co. Kilkenny, enjoyed their
stay in the deep South,
in “The Free State”, and will not hear of any payment.
Again,
the newly elected Chairman of the Irish Shows’ Association is John Beck,
of Saintfield, Co. Down
who has already intimated his intention of seeing Iverk
for himself in 1984.
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Maid
of Avonmore
First winner of the ‘Maid of Avonmore’
competition was Andy Phelan,
Dournane, Mooncoin, seen here accepting
the Avonmore Cup from
Reddy Brennan,
General Manager of Avonmore.
This year the Maid of Avonmore Competition
carried a prize fund of £1,600.
Six shows in all are involved – Clonmel, Kilkenny, Tullow, Rathdowney,
Tinahely and Iverk.
The semi-finals of the grand final will take place at Piltown
on the 6th September, 1984.
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The Husband and Wife Team
Jim Finnegan of Stoneyford has been associated with Iverk
since its revival.
In 1951 he helped to draw up the jumping programme and presented us with
the Finnegan Cup for the Open. This cup was won outright by Joan in 1956.
Her three wins were in 1952, 1954 and 1956.
She also won the replacement making a total of six Open wins in all
with Cherry and Lollypop, also in the early years.
Jim figured amongst our prize-winners in the showing classes.
For well nigh twenty years now, Jim and Joan are
early arrivals
and work unceasingly all day long in their role as judges in Arena 1.
We owe them both a big debt of gratitude.
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Two Muintir Na Tire Stalwarts
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On
the left, Gerry O’Sullivan.
His efficiency as our Public Address man for 25 years helped immensely to
the smooth
running of the show, especially during the early years.
As a gesture on his retirement he was selected as one of our Vice-Presidents.
His sudden passing was a great shock.
On
right, another enthusiast, Jimmy Cooney.
His suggestion that we run a raffle on show day proved a resounding success.
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Politicians at The Barony Meeting
James Dillon, as Minister for Agriculture, attended our revival in 1951,
while on the following years we had Tom Walsh, the new Minister.
From
1957 onwards, we had Jim Gibbons always with us.
We’ve had a varied lot of Ministers of State, including
Jackie Fahey, Michael D’Arcy, Lorcan Allen and
Paddy Hegarty.
Noel Davern, MEP, is one of our regulars, while
the local men,
Mick Lanigan, Kieran Crotty,
Liam Aylward, and Dick Dowling
all figured in our list of 1983 sponsors.
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On The Dotted Line.....
The
deed is done!
Contract being signed by Joe Malone, Vice-Chairman,
with Eamon Meade, Secretary Sub-Committee
and Legal Adviser, Pat Burke of Carrick-on-Suir.
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IVERK
SHOW – WHY NOT PILTOWN?
This
question is often asked. Where is Iverk anyway?
Can’t find it on the map.
According
to the minutes of the annual meeting on 24th October, 1826 a
decision was taken to formulate an agricultural orientated committee with
a view to improving the lot of the tenant farmers of the Barony of Iverk.
The committee would henceforward be referred to as The Iverk
Farming Society.
The Earl of Bessborough was the first Chairman,
with T. C. Eliott as Secretary.
In the early
years the emphasis was on those tenants convenient to the Big House and
those on the elevated areas where the soil was inferior to that of the lowlands.
With the staging of the show in the grounds of Bessborough
House, the tenants of the lowlands with their laden carts headed for Piltown. The crowds gathered from all over the Barony.
The arrival of the Earl and Countess was the day’s highlight. Soon this
annual gathering on the 3rd Thursday of September was known,
not as the Iverk or Piltown Show, but “The
Barony Meeting.”
We follow in the footsteps of the 1826 committee by carrying the torch ignited
by them.
So, it’s Iverk it was, it’s Iverk
it is and it’s Iverk it stays.
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THE
ROSES
The
Munster Hunter Improvement Society was a voluntary body founded in the late
fifties to upgrade the horse breeding industry by selecting the outstanding
fillies, and where better, than at Agricultural Shows.
The
boss man of this movement was Jed Dwyer, member of the great Irish jumping
team of the thirties who had such outstanding successes on Limerick Lace.
Through
the efforts of Michael Curran the first final was staged at Iverk.
Roses at various functions were popular at the time, hence a new type of
rose: a four-legged one at Iverk.
In
1971 however, the grant from Bord na
gCapall did not materialise and the organisers
decided to call off the competition. This called for action from Iverk and a meeting was arranged in Tipperary Town.
The Iverk delegates were the Chairman, Robert
Dwyer, the Secretary with Tom Fielding and Jimmy Purcell. Ted O’Dwyer
and Mrs. Heffernan represented the Hunter Committee, with Michael Curran
playing a dual role. Iverk put up the money and
the Roses Competition was saved.
Come 1983 recession year. Again Iverk put up the £300 prize money and the Roses weathered yet another setback.
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HORSE
AND PONY JUMPING
Our
members decided that we needed outside help to formulate our first jumping
programme.
Consequently a meeting was arranged with Kilkenny Show members to discuss
the problem.
Our
advisors were Tony Hughes, Mattie Brennan, Michael Costello and Jim Finnegan.
The Iverk team were Buddy Walsh, Jack Duggan, Gerry Sullivan and
the Secretary.
The venue was Marnells of Kells.
A programme, with rather limited prize money, was hammered out,
while Delia was kept busy providing the liquid nourishment.
John
Mullins, as Jumping Secretary, played a major role in the great success
of this section for over twenty years.
Last year we had a total of 472 entries in the four arenas with entry fees
in excess of £1,600.
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THANKS
In passing, we must mention the land owners
who have put up with us over the years.
Jim and Kitty Byrne, Don O’Neill-Flanagan,
Kildalton College and Piltown
Hurling Club.
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£1,000 RAFFLE
Field Fund subscribers will receive one free ticket for each
£5 donation.
1st Prize – £400
2nd Prize – £200
3rd Prize – £100
4th Prize – £50
5th Prize – £25
6th Prize – £25
PLUS 10 Prizes of £20
Draw
takes place at the April meeting of the Show Society in Anthony’s Hall.
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