Launch takes place of Newry Show 2025: the perfect family day out

The sun shone, the site was resplendent while the turnout of livestock, trade exhibitors and other attractions combined to deliver a tremendous day’s fun and excitement for the many thousands of people that made Newry Show such a success.

“And we will be delivering the same fun-filled package of excitement in 2025,” confirmed Newry Agricultural Show Society chairman, Brian Lockhart.

“This year’s show takes place on Saturday, 28 June. And it really is all systems go at this stage.

“Our venue remains the same: grounds at 12 to 18 Derrywilliagan Road, Bessbrook.”

Newry Agricultural society held its first Newry show in 1869 and has been providing an annual agricultural show ever since. The event is traditionally held on the last Saturday of June.

“The records show that we will be celebrating our 155th show this year,” Brian continued.

“And the event continues to thrive. We took four years, as a consequence of the Covid pandemic. However, Newry Show returned in 2023 to a rapturous reception from people throughout our entire catchment area.

“The aim now is to build on all of this for the future.”

Farming and food showcase

Newry Show provides a perfect platform for the farming and food sectors that are so important to the economy and community of the South Down/Armagh catchment area.

Brian Lockhart again: “People from all walks of life want to know about farming and the way they food consume is produced.

“Newry Show provides them with an almost touch: feel experience in this context.”

He added: “Events like Newry Show take place in Northern Ireland throughout the summer months.

“It would be impossible to put a value on the amount of positive publicity for our farming and food sectors, which all these events manage to generate.

“All the local shows must be fully supported into the future. In a very meaningful way.

“Our commitment is truly delivering the objectives set for farming and food in Northern Ireland by bodies, including the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, all the local councils and the myriad promotional bodies that have been established across the various food sectors.”

Sponsorship

No public event can survive without sponsorship and Newry Show is no different in this regard.

Brian Lockhart explained: “We have received tremendous support from the local business community and many commercial organisations operations across the farming and food space.

“It is so heartening to secure such a significant level of commercial support on an annual basis. On behalf of the entire membership of Newry Show Society, I would like to sincerely thank all our sponsors for 2024.”

He continued:

“Running any scale of public event in 2024 brings with it a high degree of cost. And this is especially the case when working on green field site.”

The following sponsors are supporting Newry Show 2024:

Gold category: Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Hanna Hillen Financial Services, Canal Court Hotel, Norbrook Laboratories, Assured Energy, AgriKomp, Fane Valley, NFU Mutual Insurance Company, Connex Renewables and Start Solar

Silver category: ABP, Gordon’s Chemists, Linergy, Concrete Batching Systems Ltd, Danske Bank, Best Property Services, S.M Vint & Co, Mackin’s Animal Feeds and Lakeland Dairies

Bronze category: Alltech, B Wilson and Sons, United Feeds, , Finney Brothers, Hill Engineering, Nupack Packaging, Fiveways, Richard Garvey Pharmacy, Richard McConnell and Soapy Joes

A host of other sponsors are listed on the Newry Show website: www.newryagrishow.com

Newry Show has something for everyone

Competitions will be held across the following schedules at Newry Show 2024: cattle, sheep, horses, pigs, goats, pygmy goats, children, home industries, horticulture and the ever popular dog show.

Entertainment on the day will be provided by: the Commons’ Silver Band, DJ Sammy, the Dixieland Jazz Band and Two Step.

The sun has also been asked, very politely, to make a strong appearance on the day. He answered the call ‘big time’ last year. So let’s hope that history will repeat itself in 2024.

Official Charity for 2025: Angel Wishes in Association with Nat Photography

Newry Show traditionally partners with a local charity support on an annual basis. The very worthy grouping selected for 2025 is ‘Angel Wishes in association with Nat Photography’.

Brian Lockhart explained: “We are very proud to announce that the chosen charity for Newry Agricultural Show 2025 is Angel Wishes in association with Nat Photography.”

“Angel Wishes is a unique charity providing much needed support for all children in Northern Ireland with cancer related conditions.

“This year will see Nathan Pierson, from Nat Photography, commit to securing £20,000 of funding for Angel Wishes.

“Nathan is extremely well known in the Newry & Mourne area. He is an autistic photographer with verbal dyspraxia.

“For the past 10 years, he has captured the stunning landscapes of Northern Ireland in a breath taking manner.

“But fund raising on behalf of charities has always been at the heart of everything that he does.

“I am delighted that Nat will be actively fund raising for Angel Wishes at this year’s Newry Show.

“And I would encourage all visitors coming to the vent to support him in whatever way they can.”

The launch of Newry Show 2025

Farming families with a long term commitment to their businesses can be easily made exempt from the UK’s expanded inheritance tax measures.

This was the clear views expressed Co Down-based financial planning specialist, David Hanna.

He spoke at the official launch of Newry Show 2025, adding: “It’s obvious that the current Westminster government does not understand farming. The expanded inheritance tax measures, referenced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer last October, are the most talked about Revenue-related measures to have an impact on farming over the past forty years.

“All agricultural businesses are asset rich and cash poor. As a consequence, many farming families are worided about their abiliry tom actually pay the tax should they ever be faced with the need to so.

Hanna continued: “And there is a ripple effect to be considered within all of this. Many farm businesses will not have the confidence to invest in the future of their businesses.

“We may also see a change in the way that banks deal with their farming clients.”

The Newry-based finical consultant believes there is a very clear and concise way for the UK government to amend the new tax measures.

He added: “There is a clear option for the Chancellor to exempt all faming businesses with a clear commitment to maintain the fabric of their businesses for the benefit of future businesses.

“By taking this approach the Chancellor can focus her attention on those individuals and companies that view an investment in land as simply that: an opportunity to dodge the payment of inheritance tax.”

Hanna is amongst a growing number of accountants and financial planning specialists who believe that the Chancellor of the Exchequer still has time to amend the agri focussed tax changes that she specified last autumn.

Brian Lockhart echoed the views expressed by the UFU president.

He said: “The opportunities that enhanced levels of food production can create will deliver enhanced economic benefits across the entire Newry Show catchment area.

He concluded: “In the meantime, all our plans are fast falling into place for our big event on Saturday, 29 June.

“Everyone will be made more than welcome on the big day.”