The Virginia Agricultural Show, or Virginia Show is an annual agricultural fair held in the town of Virginia, County Cavan, Ireland. It is held at the Virginia Show Grounds. The current show has been running for over 80 years.[3][4][5] The show is known for its dairy cow competition. The 76th edition was the subject of Show Day a documentary short directed by Alan Bradley in 2018.[6][7]
Event
Over the years, the event has had exhibitions and cow, sheep, dog and goat competitions, as well as arts, and dancing events.[8][9] There were 490 competition classes in 2012.[10]
Irish Champion Cow competition
The Irish Champion Cow, known as the "Baileys Irish Champion Cow" for sponsorship reasons,[11][12] is a dairy cow evaluation competition.[13][11] Running for more than 30 years,[9] its entrants are judged on aspects such as legs, neck, back and udder qualities.[11] The top prize was worth €8,000 in the mid 2000's,[14][15] reducing to GBP2,150 in 2016.[16]
Virginia Show Grounds
As well as an exhibition centre, meeting and sports centre,[17] the Show Grounds is the site of agricultural academic research.[18] It has been used as a temporary COVID-19 testing centre.[19]
^"Ireland : Minister McEntee opens the Virginia Agricultural Show". TendersInfo News. 23 August 2012. GaleA300541406 – via Gale OneFile.
^ abc"'Who is the Fairest of Them All?'... Baileys Irish Cream Launches Search for Finest Dairy Cow in the Land" (Press release). PRWeb. 23 July 2009. GaleA221720702 – via Gale General OneFile.
^"Installation Of A Multi-sport Portable Wooden Flooring System For Installation In The Existing Show Centre Hall Space". Mena Report. 6 November 2020. GaleA640814668 – via Gale Academic OneFile.
^"Irish Government Contract Notice: Virginia Show Centre Ltd Issues Contract Notice for 'Virginia Show Centre, Co Cavan - Tender for a Researcher/Co-Ordinator to co-ordinate a cross border exchange programme to record and archive rural life over the last 75 years '" (Press release). 5 November 2018. EBSCOhostedsgcl.561374268.