collection OHS5 - Records of Offaly Farming and Industrial Society

Established probably at the turn of the 20th century, the committee of King’s County Farming and Agricultural Society organised agricultural shows in the county. From 1905 there were shows held in Edenderry, Daingean, Tullamore, Birr and Kilcormac. In 1913 a preliminary meeting was held to revive the old Tullamore show, which had first been held in 1840 under the patronage of the second earl of Charleville. The 1913 show was a success and was thereafter held annually until 1919. Due to the troubled state of the country, there were no shows held between 1920 and 1923. It was revived again in 1924 with the now renamed Offaly Farming and Industrial Society taking over the cricket grounds at Spollanstown, Tullamore, to be used as showgrounds. The show was in decline by the mid-1930s and a decision was taken in 1939 not to hold a show that year, a decision which was upheld for the duration of the Second World War. By the end of the war, the Society had decided to sell the show-grounds at Spollanstown to the combined soccer and rugby clubs, and the Tullamore Show was largely forgotten. It was revived in 1991 and continues with record attendances to the present day.