BIRR GAME & COUNTRY FAIR’S PACKED PROGRAMME ANNOUNCED
Following on from the success of its partner Fair at Shanes Castle which attracted record crowds for any Irish Game Fair ever, a stunning range of new attractions and competitions with top prizes were announced today for the 4th Irish Game & Country Fair at Birr Castle, Co Offaly on 28/29 August 2010.
Marketing Director Albert Titterington said: “Our focus on innovation and improvement will hopefully see us follow a record breaking Northern fair with a record breaking Fair at Birr – a country sports extravaganza with the best prize fund in Irish Game Fair history for enthusiasts and the very best entertainment for their families in the exceptional surroundings of Birr Castle. No wonder the Great Game Fairs of Ireland brand and its events have achieved top recognition by government at national and international level for the vital economic impact brought about by our extraordinary range of entertainment, along with class leading competitions, and fabulous tailor made fun for all the family. Birr really has become synonymous with everything that people want – an unmatched countryside experience in the unmatched surroundings of Birr Castle.”
Albert went on to pay tribute to the vast number of clubs, organizations and individuals that play a part in delivering what is undoubtedly a national showcase for country sports and the rural way of life. He paid a particular tribute to the NARGC, Ireland’s leading country sports organization; FISSTA , Ireland’s largest fishing organization and IFA Countryside for their support in delivering not only the Republic of Ireland’s national game and country fair but one that is increasingly developing an international reputation.”
The exciting new developments for the Birr Fair 2010:
Enhanced cross border twinning of the events at Birr Castle, Co Offaly and Shanes Castle, with the support of government Ministers north and south, designed to expand on existing creative and effective marketing practice to deliver increased economic and social benefits for both regions.
International digital TV coverage: from http://www.fieldsportschannel.tv/
All Ireland Championships with an unrivalled Prize Fund: All Ireland All Comers Game Fair Championships in Clay Shooting, Fly Casting; and Gundogs. A combined Great Game Fairs of Ireland prize fund of over €70,000 puts the Fairs into a totally different league to other events in Ireland and Birr’s events are simply unmatched in the Republic of Ireland.
Brand New Championship events – one for stickmaking and the other for terriers and lurchers.
Irish Stickmakers’ Championships: The Irish Stickmaking Championship which will be staged at Birr by the Celtic Stickmakers Club. Full details of the classes can be had from Tom Kavanagh who with Lindsay Carlisle will judge the inaugural championship. There will be a top prize of a Perpetual Trophy, a specially engraved tankard and €200 for the winner plus 1st and 2nd placed rosettes for each of the classes.
The Redmills/Irish Countrysports and Country Life Five Nations Terrier Championship: is the only game or country fair event in Ireland that includes the creme de la creme of terriers from across the UK and Ireland. There are four qualifying shows across the UK, with local qualifiers at Shanes Castle and Birr Castle. This really prestigious competition will have its final at Birr Castle (after the ROI Terrier Championship). The prize fund for the Championships exceeds €3,500 with the winner’s prize pot being of the order of €2,000 in prizes and cash.
Best ever programme of entertainment: as well as glittering championships we have a superb new main arena programme – falconry, gundogs, horses & hounds, terriers & lurchers, living history displays plus a range of novel new events going on elsewhere in the demesne.
Much more to see and do: equestrian displays including carriages and Cochise Horses and the world famous Horse Whisperer Franklin Levinson; Children’s Learning and Entertainment Area (normal amusements climbing wall, quads etc but also conservation, science and natural history exhibits); rural crafts; artists in action; cookery demonstrations; Falconry display; World of Dogs (displays by the various dog clubs of sporting and Irish breeds): vintage cars; gardening and horticultural displays; tours of the estate; Living History Village with music, cookery, weapon making and handling; historical talks; theatre and drama; traditional music; bee keeping; game displays; fly casting tuition; air rifle shooting; traditional farming displays, stick making and pole turning; children’s fishing and casting tuition on the lake and much, much more.
Falconry – new free flying displays: the skill of the falconer and the amazing aerobatical prowess of the birds will simply be awesome! The Prince Bishops Medieval Falconry display team’s exciting flying programme with birds soaring and stoop overhead, while you can get up close and personal with a nearby static display of birds of prey. The unique rich mix of history, excitement, expectation and medieval splendour showcases one of the largest displays ever of birds of prey at any event in Ireland.
The Great Game Fairs of Ireland’s bid to help save the planet!
Birr Fair will have vital information and products focusing on the greener lifestyle. We are promoting the concept of country sports, farming and conservation interests working in harmony for the preservation of the countryside and our planet and Lord and Lady Rosse’s estate provides a fine example of this in action. Birr Fair will have a good range of green, eco friendly products, information and displays.
The Cochise Riders team: will carry out their normal fantastic displays of controlled horsemanship with their the Paso Fino horses, a breed that has been called ‘America’s 500 year old breed. Derek O’Byrne-White and his team are just back from the European Championships where Andrew O’Byrne White and his bay mare Santana’s Caroline who will feature at Birr, are now European Champions in Country Pleasure and also Champion of Champions from the same Championships. The Cochise Riders will be demonstrating the unique gait of the Paso Fino performed at three speeds – the Classic Fino characterized by rapid footfall and slow forward motion, the Paso Corto the medium speed gait, and the Corto the ideal trail and pleasure gait and the public will see just what makes these horses so special. .And watch out for the team performing their Riverdance routine – a special treat that has to be seen to be believed. So watch out Birr – the Cochise Riders are coming!
World famous Trojan Heavy Horses: unmissable, the charm of a byegone age with these amazing horses. But this is no history lesson – see them working in the Main Arena, pulling felled timber, showing their strength, their skill and their olde worlde charm, drawing timber to master woodsman, Paddy Murray who displays exceptional control over the timber, splitting it by hand and fashioning it into master crafted posting etc
Birr Equestrian Centre has organized a fantastic concours d’elegance from some of the most elegant horse drawn vehicles in the area together with a very interesting commentary on their history.
Horse whisperer – Franklin Levinson: all the way from Snowmass, Colorado Franklin Levinson will demonstrate just why he is acknowledged to be one of the leading authorities in the equine world and show how he brings his skills to bear on horse training and more.
Franklin has 40+ years experience as a professional horseman. Long before the ‘natural horsemanship’ craze, he was teaching and training horses using his own gentle, effective methods. At Birr, the public will experience one of the few, true remaining innovators of gentle, successful horsemanship. Showing humans how to have the highest and best relationship with their horses and how to keep it has always been one of Franklin’s main goals. To be good with horses at a high level requires us humans to come forward with our best qualities and attributes. Franklin has always felt that practicing appropriate interaction with horses helps humans to become more highly functional in all their relationships. So increase your success with your horse, no matter what the activity by watching Franklin at Birr.
Dog Guru – Keith Mathews: Keith Mathews, arguably Ireland’s most reputable dog trainer, will appear exclusively for the Great Game Fairs of Ireland at Birr. Keith is a born entertainer who will have the main arena crowds enthralled with his masterful displays. Birr audiences will learn a lot from Keith while enjoying a display choc a bloc with sheer entertainment. Keith burst onto our TV screens with his hit dog training series Good Dog Bad Dog, and appeared as the canine expert on the BBC’s The One Show reaching an audience of around 5 million.
A dog training masterclass: Keith will be giving main arena displays on both days of the Fairs and SEEN ONLY AT A GREAT GAME FAIR OF IRELAND – invite the public into the arena with their dogs to take part in a group masterclass. Keith will also conduct one to one clinics with pet owners on the Irish Countrysports and Country Life magazine stand.
Fine ranges of both modern and antique guns on display: We are delighted to announce that we have encouraged many new exhibitors from all over Ireland, the UK and even the US to exhibit with us at both venues including knife makers, taxidermists, sporting art, sporting books and sporting holiday providers.
Extended Living History Village: an exciting, interactive living-history village will feature distinct periods in rural life. A living history with 13th century Irish living at its best including , an armory, cook site, fabric crafts, bone carving, armour making (chain mail), barber/surgeon, leather worker and silversmith – all by the Fingal Living History Society. And the English group the Best of Times, Worst of Times will showcase a complete Elizabethan Household with crafts and household activities, while a pike and musketry display will thrill in the main arena and if you are taken with the medieval lifestyle there is a full opportunity to try your hand at archery with modern or longbow.
Great Game Fairs of Ireland Clay Shooting has the top prizes and the largest entries!
Clay Pigeon shooting’s 14K plus prize fund: Birr will have one of finest layouts in Ireland with a massive prize structure. This features two 50 bird sporting layouts including the Southern Irish All Comers Game Fair Championships, a 25 bird DTL Game Fair Championship.
Massive prizes: this year’s clay shoot at Birr promises to be the biggest and best ever with 3 shotguns to be won, 2 big screen televisions and numerous cash and other prizes with a total value of over €13000.
50 Bird Sporting Championship: the main competition is the Irish Game & Country Fair 50 Bird Sporting Championship over two days with a BERETTA DT10 sponsored by David Brennan of Ardee Sports and a FAUSTI STEFANO shotgun sponsored by Tom and Niall Kirwan of Lakeland shooting Centre as the main prizes.
Nine guns will qualify each day in the following classifications to shoot out for the Fausti Stefano on Sunday evening:
Class A/AA- Best three scores
Class B/C - Best three scores
Unclassified- Best three scores
The top four guns from this competition and the top four guns from the Irish Game Fair held at Shanes Castle Antrim last June will then shoot out for the Great Game Fairs of Ireland overall championship prize of a Beretta DT10 Shotgun.
There will be a second 50 Bird Sporting line in operation at Birr with a daily 1st prize of a big screen television sponsored by Expert Ireland. There will also be valuable prizes for 2nd & 3rd gun.
IFACountryside 25Bird DTL Championship: this year in Birr we also have a 25 Bird DTL Championship over 2 days with a 1st prize of a SAUER STERLING Shotgun sponsored by IFA Countryside. Five guns will qualify each day for the final on Sunday evening. One place in the five is reserved each day for the highest scoring IFA Countryside member.
There will of course be daily prizes for 1st 2nd & 3rd gun in the 25 Bird DTL.
There will also be special prizes for the best lady sporting shot.
Gundogs – Great Game Fairs of Ireland All Ireland Game Fair Championships: the largest and best sponsored Gundog events at any Fair in Ireland are staged at the two Great Game Fairs of Ireland at Shanes Castle and Birr Castle where the gundog events are sponsored by Massbrook Pet Food: Gundogs at Birr are under the direction of Derek Harford and Eddie Kirk and are sponsored by the Binley family’s Massbrook brand. Saturday has a novel North v South spaniel team event with novice and open spaniel tests. Also the minor breeds and AV novice retriever tests organised by the IWS club.
Sunday is retriever day with an international team retriever test followed by an open retriever test and the final of the All Ireland Game Fair Retriever Handling Championship all organised by the Broadmeadows Gundog Club.
Spaniels: Saturday 28th August National Open & International Spaniel Tests.
Retrievers: Sunday 29th August National and International Retriever Team Tests plus the final of the All Ireland Game Fair Championships in retriever handing.
The 4th Republic of Ireland Terrier & Lurcher Championships: the largest and best terrier and lurcher events in Ireland will be held at Birr Castle. Terrier & Lurcher Racing is on Saturday with the shows on Sunday starting at 1.00pm. This year the Fair will feature main arena displays of terrier, whippet and lurcher racing at 12.30 and 4.30pm Saturday and 12.30 on Sunday.
The Redmills/Irish Countrysports and Country Life Five Nations Terrier Championship: for the first time Birr will host a qualifier and the final of this unique event. Here the creme de la creme of the terrier world from across Ireland and the UK will compete for this terrier crown. The top terrier at Birr will meet the qualifier from Shanes Castle, a qualifier from the famous Scottish Neilston Working Dog Club Show; English qualifiers from the Yorkshire Game Fair and the Earth Dog Running Dog Show and a Welsh qualifier from the famous North Wales Chirk Show. Top prize includes a specially engraved champion’s tankard and a Champion’s Five Nations Cup to be won outright and a Perpetual Mask Trophy, a painting of the winning dog by famous Liverpool artist David L Prescott and €500 ; a framed limited edition print; and a special Terrier Box plus Redmills dog food. Each finalist receives a Leather Terrier couple; a limited edition tankard; a limited edition presentation plate, Redmills Dog Food plus their accommodation paid for by the clubs organising the qualifiers, their travel paid and €50 expenses.
Angling: With exceptional facilities, the Fair will host one of the best outdoor angling shows ever mounted in Ireland sited in the picturesque setting of the beautiful lake with an outstanding range of quality tackle stands in the Anglers Row. World Ladies Casting Champion Glenda Powell has put together an imaginative programme of demonstrations, coaching & tuition in association with APGAI Ireland.
White O’Morn are the main sponsors of the casting competitions and the classes include Professional Class (winner receives a Loop rod); Novice Class (open to all except professionals); a Youth’s Class and a Ladies Class. Top distance winners in the Trout will meet the Northern Fair winners from at Shanes Castle for the Pat Burns Memorial Trophy and £500.
FISSTA, Ireland’s largest angling organization will host the finals of their Schools competition in the main arean on Saturday starting at 10.00am.
For the less expert angler demonstrations include casting and fly tying and coaching from experts including APGAI Ireland members who are supervising the competitions and offering coaching.
The Year of the Horse: each year we give an area of the fair a special focus and this year it must be the ‘Year of the Horse.’ As readers will see from the arena programme (downloadable from the web site http://www.irishgameandcountryfair/
These are of a horse, the Byerley Turk, that not only played a great part in the development of the modern thoroughbred, being one of its three progenitors – the others were Godolphin Arabian Darley Arabian
The stallion Battle of Buda (1686) , served as Byerley’s war horse when he was dispatched to Ireland in 1689 during King William’s War Battle of the Boyne
and saw further military service in the
he is also reputed to have won the first ever recorded horse race in Northern Ireland. From his exertions in this campaign he was retired to an illustrious stud career.
The artist explains: “Having painted thoroughbred horses for the best part of 20 years, the idea of painting one of the three foundation sires of the modern thoroughbred was a very interesting one to me. Researching the Byerley Turk, starting at the Battles of Vienna (1683) and Buda in 1686 where he was captured by the British forces from the Turks, I felt I wanted to portray how he might have looked during his two years spent fighting in Ireland in such defining moments of our history in the Williamite wars. In all I created four paintings to mark various key stages in the life of this unique animal.”
The Encampment
The idea for the portrait pose with the day to day life of a military camp in the backround developed further after discussions with Dr Padraig Lenihan, author of The Battle Of The Boyne and military expert on 17th century warfare in Ireland.
Overlooking the Boyne
As I travelled around the battle sites, I imagined how beautiful everything must have looked as Robert Byerley, Colonel of The 6th Dragoon Guards, led his troops down the steep slopes to cross the Boyne and engage in battle on a calm, sunny July morning.
Cavalry Charge
Having crossed the Boyne, Byerley charges the opposing army where the Turk horse’s speed takes him swiftly into battle. In the backround the Oxford Blues on the right of picture and the King’s Life guards descend the bank to the river.
The Aughrim painting depicts the far bloodier battle with a greater loss of life, both men and horses. The Byerley Turk horse was involved in one of the more decisive movements of the battle when late in the evening they thundered down the narrow pass and effectively ended the battle.”
The three sisters gallery will display these and other paintings at Birr Castle. Other sporting art will be displayed by David Prescott who has been extremely generous in sponsoring paintings for the Woodcock Association, NARGC and other sporting bodies and events in Ireland.
Apart from these fine examples of equestrian art – equine enthusiasts will find much to interest them including horse and hound displays, heavy horse work, horse drawn vehicles , dancing horses and even an American horse whisperer.
The Country Lifestyle Tented Village of Trade Stand includes: Gunmakers Row; Country Homes & Gardens Row including Antiques, Fine Furnishing and Interior Design; Country Sports & Clothing Row; Anglers Row; Equestrian Row; Country Cars and 4×4 Row.
More marketing opportunities for the Mid Ireland Region and local traders: The Birr Fair provides an even better opportunity for local business to exhibit their products/services to the public and be part of an exciting Shannon Development/Mid Ireland Tourism tourism and commercial initiative.
Albert Titterington said: “Birr Castle provides a striking backdrop to the mix of heritage, setting and entertainment, attractive for home audiences and tourists alike. No wonder the past two Birr Fairs exceeded all expectations in terms of attendance, number of exhibitors and competitors, and the sheer volume of visitors it brought to the area – and the commercial business that was done inside and outside the Fair itself.
“The support of Shannon Development has been crucial to the Fair’s rapid development into a national event that is now an emerging international brand. It is not only the financial support that we appreciate but also advice, local intelligence and also the involvement of Mid Ireland Tourism in coordinating exhibits.
Albert Titterington also paid a massive tribute to Lord & Lady Rosse and their staff, who were involved in virtually every facet of the organisation of the Fair and showed a real interest and commitment to making it an unequalled success.
“Birr Castle is a truly magical place and the Fair here is a true partner Fair to our award winning Northern Fair at Shanes Castle. This year we will see the Birr Fair cemented completely into the Irish calendar of country events and establish an international recognition for the area.
“The success of the Birr Fair from 2007 – 2009 fully justified our decision to twin it with the already successful Northern Fair under the brand the Great Game Fairs of Ireland. This has worked and we are developing it further so that each Fair will soon be highly significant in the European marketplace which will reap benefits for economies north and south.
“The Great Game Fairs Fairs are destined to have much wider family appeal with programmes so diverse that country sports enthusiasts can visit Shanes Castle and Birr Fairs without fear of repetition or disappointment. We are maintaining the sporting integrity and rural roots of the Game Fair but also adding to it events and attractions to appeal to the whole family. Love of the Irish countryside is not confined to those who live there. Our programmes are packed with attractions to suit almost every taste and to encourage even the most determined city-dweller to sample rural pleasures which include crafts, food and entertainment as well as country sports. We will also be presenting fantastic glimpses of rural life and sporting traditions of other ages with the living history encampment.”
Operations Director David Wilkinson said: “This year our team celebrates over 32 years of involvement in organising Irish Game Fairs and to reinforce a ‘country sports first’ philosophy we have the largest prize funds ever seen at any Game Fair in Ireland as well as unrivalled competition structures for each of the two shows. This has developed into All Ireland Championships in Clay Shooting, Fly Casting, Gundogs & Terrier & Lurchers, augmented this year with new championships.
“Most of the competitions are organised by local sporting interests and local hotels and guest houses are filling up well in the Mid Ireland area, with exhibitors, competitors and people intending to visit the Fair. Special exhibition rates are available at the Fair for local exhibitors to promote their goods and services and sponsorship opportunities are available from as little as €200.”
Birr Fair Director Director Philip Lawton added: “We consider Birr Castle to be a perfect location to stage the event not only because of its central location but because we consider that the demesne provides a magical backdrop for a national Irish Fair focused on what is best in the Irish Countryside. Apart from the many country lifestyle and medieval attractions that we will bring to Birr that weekend there are so many ‘in house’ attractions on the estate to entertain the large crowds that we expect to attend.”
Albert Titterington, who is recognised as the driving force behind the Irish Game Fairs and arguably the longest serving Game Fair Director in the world was bullish about the new developments at Birr. “It has been my pleasure to work with a vast number of people including hosts, sponsors; event organisers, country sports bodies, clubs, competitors as well as the non-sporting public in delivering successful events which have been effective showcases for our sports.
“ However, I am equally pleased to be involved with a truly cross border team here at Birr. These current and future planned developments will set the foundation for the Great Irish Game Fairs that will continue for another 30 years!”
The Birr Game & Country Fair is supported by Shannon Development and Failte Ireland.
Media sponsorship is from the Farmers Journal.
Over to you
The Great Game Fairs of Ireland have a serious objective to demonstrate how countrysports, farming and conservation interests have and can work together for the preservation of the countryside and the rural way of life. When both are under threat the fairs provide a great public platform to educate the young and to promote the very important role that country sports play in the countryside and the rural and tourism economy.
We have started this year with an excellent and well received fair at Ballywalter, broken all records at Shanes Castle, and have developed exceptional programmes for Birr Castle Fair. We ask for your support in making these the best fairs ever.
Full details of the fair including a downloadable programme can be had from
Web: http://www.irishgameandcountryfair.com/
Email: irishgamefair@btinternet.com
