Attractions

IRELAND'S PREMIER GAME AND COUNTRY FAIR PROVIDING THE BEST FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT and COUNTRY LIFESTYLE EXPERIENCE

With four or five Game or Country Fairs in Ireland sometimes people get confused about what is happening at which fair - including apparently some of the other organisers! Also some organisers, apparently unable to promote their own branding effectively, appear to want to 'tap into' our well established branding we thought it necessary to clarify why we organise the REAL Irish Game Fairs and why year after year our Fairs attract the largest number of competitors and the largest audiences AND provide the BEST FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT.

Crowds at Shanes

Some facts

The Great Game Fairs of Ireland are not only the best game or country fairs in Ireland and Ireland's largest country sports and lifestyle events but events that provide unrivalled family entertainment.

FACT 1: The Great Game Fairs of Ireland - the award winning event at Shanes Castle, the well established event at Birr and the newly organised Ballywalter Game & Country Living Fair are organised by the most experienced organising team in the world. And the most experienced team in Ireland by far.

FACT 2: Since 2008 when the All Ireland Game Fair All Comers Championships were launched the prize fund has been maintained at a level unsurpassed by any other events in Ireland. This is why these competitions attract unrivalled entries and why the Great Game Fairs of Ireland are recognised as the top fairs for attracting both local and international competitors. In 2009 these competitions with were extended with the launch of new Barbour All Ireland Game Fair Novice Championships and in 2010 we launched a new Redmills Five Nations International Terrier Championship and a new All Ireland Game Fair Stickmaking Championships. In 2011 two new international championships for lurchers have been launched - the Redmills Five Nations International Lurcher Championships ( qualifiers throughout the Uk and Ireland – final at Birr Castle) and the Redmills Master McGrath Challenge – to find the fastest Lutcher in the UK and Ireland – final at Shanes Castle. We lead where others follow!

FACT 3: The Shanes Castle Fair hosts Ireland’s largest Gundog and canine extravaganza

Ireland's largest and most varied canine extravaganza will be staged at the Irish Game Fair at Shanes Castle, Antrim on the 25th & 26th June.

This includes extensive international competition with the unique Chudleys Golden Retriever Interclub test featuring 9 teams of golden retrievers from all over the UK taking on the UGRC team followed by the Feedwell International Team event with ROI, NI and Ulster Select teams taking on teams from Holland and Wales. Other gundog events include Cocker & Springer Spaniel Tests; an international Open Retriever Test; the final of the All Ireland Game Fair Retriever Handing Championships; Dog & Gun event; Novice Retriever Test; Retriever, HPR and Spaniel demonstrations; and a Gundog Scurry.

The Kennel Club from London will have an information stand for both working and show gundogs and the NIGFSS is staging a Group Show for pedigree Gundogs, Hounds and Terriers. Also on the Show front the Glandore Dog Training Club will stage and agility show and provide their ever popular main arena display.

Ireland's premier lurcher & terrier show the 24th Annual All Ireland Terrier & Lurcher Championships takes place with racing on Saturday and showing on Sunday. The show is a qualifier for The Midland Game Fair Championship and the Lurcher Champion qualifies for the final of the Redmills Five Nations International Championship final at Birr Castle Fair on the 28th August. The racing will stage the Final of the Redmills Master McGrath Challenge to find the fastest lurcher in the UK or Ireland over 150 yards – with a prize fund now exceeding €1500 as well as the All Ireland Championship over the normal longer distance.

When you add in horse & hound displays; long netting displays with whippet; a fantastic row of canine stands; two great canine artists, and an attempt on the World record by dog guru Keith Mathews, there can be no doubt that if you are interested in dogs – you simply shouldn’t miss the Shanes Castle event.

FACT 4: The Best Game Fair Clay Pigeon Shooting events takes place at Shanes Castle

In 2011 Shanes hosts the final of the All Ireland Game Fair Championships championship at Birr and a qualifier for the Barbour All Ireland Game Fair Novice Championships. As usual the top prizes exceed anything on offer at any other game or country fair Top prize is a Beretta 682 Shotgun worth over £3,000.

FACT 5: The Angling section of the Fair at Shanes and the Casting competitions at Shanes Castle and Birr Castle (with Irish records being broken in 2007) have grown in stature every year and can now be viewed as one of the highlights of the Fairs and certainly superior to any other Irish Fair. Once again in 2011 there are superb cash and products prizes to be won sponsored by Hardy /Greys at Shanes Castle and Atkins Angling at Birr Castle. Shanes Castle hosts a qualifier for the All Ireland Game Fair Championships and a qualifier for the Barbour All Ireland Novice Game Fair Casting Championship.

In addition there are casting, and fly tying displays and coaching from APGAI.

FACT 6: We have one of the most extensive and varied arena programme at any show in Ireland and unless something catastrophic happens the events we advertise will actually be there!

The Dragoons thrill the crowd with musketry, sabres and cannon fire!

FACT 7: We have one of the largest areas of tented village of any show in Ireland with an extensive range of quality stands covering all the country sports and lifestyle areas. In 2011 we will have the largest Gunmakers Rows and Fisherman's Rows in Ireland and the smartest Fine Food & Crafts Pavilions.

FACT 8: We seek to not only entertain but to provide an educational facility and thus all the major sporting organisations will be there to give advice of the sports and we have the hugely entertaining and educational Living History and eco villages. The Living History Village is sponsored by Antrim Borough Council.

A SUPERB FAMILY SHOW

THE MEDIEVAL/LIVING HISTORY FESTIVAL
This is a real Living History festival and is not to be confused with "hyped up" copies at other events. This year the North Irish Dragoons with cannon, musketry and sabres, ' join the Elizabethan household of the Best of Times and the Worst of Times and their main arena display of pike and matchlock work; the 13C Irish Medieval Group from Finglas are putting on a display of Viking Life

EQUESTRIAN
The Fairs have always had a good equestrian flavour and this year is no exception

Traditional Carriages

Obstacle Driving

On display will be the normal horse and hound displays plus both a traditional horse driven vehicle display and an exciting driving display over an obstacle course. If one adds in running horses and hackneys from the Budore Stud and some really special Western riding displays from the dancing horses of the Cochise Stud joined by legendary US horse whisperer Franklin Levinson, who has broken his European tour to fly in to join us.

Running Horses

The Cochise Stud
Cochise Stud was established by a partnership of Elke Christoph and Derek O'Byrne-White in 2000. Their plan was to establish a stud with difference with Native American breeds like the Quarter Horse, Appaloosa, American Paint Horse and the South American Paso Fino, the first recognised breed to come from the Western Hemisphere.

Cochise Horses

Not only are the breeds different at Cochise Stud, but also the riding and training style. Both Riding and training is all Western Inspired. Cochise stud offer lessons and trekking in Western on all pure bred American breeds, along with this Cochise Stud co-ordinate and present clinic presentations on Western Inspired Natural Horsemanship from Internationally acclaimed clinician's from Europe and US. (See WebPages www.cochisestud.com clinic schedule.)

In 2005 Trainer Derek O'Byrne-White entered the competition circuit with their Paso Finos. In 2006 won two European titles in Western Pleasure and Trail. In 2008 Derek trained Santana's Caroline to Reserve Western Pleasure title and the she is now placed 11th in Europe Performance Paso Fino. Plans for 2010 include for the first time to bring native bred Paso finos to the Europe championship in Germany.

One of Cochise Stud future plans are to establish a series of Western Inspired training clinic by world renowned clinicians from North America and main land Europe all with a proven track record. The first of these clinics will take place at Birr Game and Country Fair 22nd and 23rd August 2009 by World renowned Clinician from the USA Franklin Levinson.

Derek has provided superb main arena displays of fantastic horses control at Birr for the last two years and hopes to bring a new superb show which he calls 'Flaming Hooves' to Shanes Castle.

The Cochise Stud will also have their Western & Equestrian Tack Shop at both Fairs and you can get up close and personal with his four horses. For further information see www.cochisestud.com and in the arena with them and on their stand will be legendary US horse trainer Franklin Levinson see www.franklinlevinson.com

SPORTING ART

We have four sporting and wildlife artist displaying at the Shanes Castle Fair and this year to celebrate the fact the largest Canine Display ever we are unveiling a new painting of the most famous Irish dog ever, Master Mc Grath. Master McGrath owned by Lord Lurgan won the Waterloo Cup three times and this new painting from a photograph of 'the Master' by Louise Barrett from the famous Three Sisters Gallery is reckoned to be one of the best ever portraits of the great dog

Master Mc Grath Painting

FALCONRY & Birds of Prey
Firstly the renowned Liverpool wildlife artist, David Prescott, will be displaying not only a range of hawks and falcons but also a spectacular range of animal paintings www.davidprescottwildlife.com plus there are static displays of the 'real thing' by John Carmichael of the Northern Ireland School of Falconry and the World of Owls.

John Carmichael gives MP Jim Shannon a lesson in high flying

John Carmichael is rapidly gaining the reputation of providing one of the finest falconry displays to be seen in Ireland. He combines an unrivalled ability to communicate with his audience through audience participation with children with some of the best technical flying to be seen anywhere. John is flying birds better than at any time in his career and his display in the town square at Newtownards and at Ballywalter were some of the best seen in Ireland for several years.

This is supported by a static display from the World of Owls with all sorts of owls and other animals for kids to handle FREE!

World of Owls

Looking at art – the art of preserving animals - Shanes Castle has two magnificent displays of taxidermy – one in the Keepers Tent and the other by Ingrid Houers on the Irish Countrysports and Country Life magazine stand.

Ingrid Houwers at work

THE ECO VILLAGE
Although Fair Director Albert Titterington is best known for organising fairs, publishing, his overall involvement in countrysports and his period as an academic and marketing consultant, not many people know that Albert is a graduate biologist and someone with a lifelong interest in the conservation and preservation of the countryside. Albert has published several internationally acclaimed academic articles on such diverse green issues as green consumerism; food scares; organic food; recycling; environmental labelling; alternative energy etc.

In fact he has always espoused and promoted the concept of country sports, farming and conservation interests working in harmony for the preservation of the countryside and our planet. In fact both of the estates where the Great Game Fairs of Ireland are staged provide final living examples of how this harmonious relationship can work.

However in 2011 the two Great Game Fairs of Ireland are going even GREENER with the launch of complete sections focused on developing Ireland's most exciting green living events - ECO FAIRS & VILLAGES.

These exhibition and display areas will be dedicated tented villages sponsored by Eventus Marquees and North Down Marquees respectively, providing a "one stop shop" for all the products and services necessary to buy into a GREENER LIFESTYLE including: Sustainable Living, Home & Garden Design, Energy Saving Design, Renewable Energy, Recycling and Waste Management. It is intended that they provide not only an entertainment but educational facility.

The ECO FAIRS & VILLAGES will be supported by the implementation of greener and more environmentally friendly practices throughout the fair including energy generation, better recycling facilities for packaging and litter, green transport and encouraging greener travelling arrangements.

A HUGE TENTED VILLAGE OF TRADE STANDS

The huge tented village of trade stands includes not only the largest display of guns and tackle in Northern Ireland but basically every kind of product for any member of the family to buy into the country lifestyle including Fine Food & Drinks.

Speaking of Fine Food & Drinks
New catering contractors have been employed to provide a wide range of food options at an affordable price ranging from burger & chips to succulent Hog Roast. In addition there will Game Cookery demonstrations provided by Emmett Mc Court in the Flogas Kitchen

Emmett McCourt – GO for GAME

Emmett McCourt started his career 24 years ago at the NI Hotel and Catering College Portrush and since then has travelled the world working in the kitchens of some of the best restaurants, luxury cruise liners and hotels with some of the worlds greatest chefs such as the legendary George Paineu and Ives Thuries from France.

Emmett demonstrating at Shanes Castle

His cooking influences are taken from far and near, but he describes his cooking as 'Classical French with Modern Interpretations'. Constantly trying to test his skills and widen his experience he has competed locally and internationally at 'salon culinaires' and holds numerous awards and medals .He judges regularly at Chef Skills Competitions and is Theatre manager at the IFEX Chef Skill Belfast. He has co authored the book Food Reflections of N Ireland and holds a BSc Degree in International Culinary Arts from Thames Valley University.

He Lecturers at the North-West Regional College Londonderry and at Belfast Metropolitan College and demonstrates locally and nationally in stores and at major food events and at times for the Great Game Fairs of Ireland events. He has also contributed to Irish Country Sports and Country life magazine 'Cookery Pages'.

He endeavours to utilise local and ethically sourced and sustainable ingredients wherever possible and as his other passions are fishing and shooting – game and fish are heavily featured in his menus. In fact his interest in fly fishing led to him making a contribution to the hugely successful limited edition angling book "Willow Pitch" by specialist angling publishers Little Egret Press in Cornwall. He is currently working on a book which traces the historical and cultural food aspects of Irish life he claims that "This will be a food journey that will feature the many natural and wild produce of the time, recipes such as the Victorian Classic " Potted Trout or Salmon" ,Wild Fruit preserves, and many Game Dishes.

Emmett is delighted to showcase his skills at the events organised by the Great Game Fairs of Ireland and head up the Go For Game campaign at the Fairs and in the Irish Countrysports and Country Life magazine, as he considers that demonstrations such as these give people an opportunity to see and to taste the quality of ethically and locally sourced produce that Ireland has to offer when it is imaginatively and creatively prepared and presented. He also appreciates that the team from the Great Game Fairs of Ireland, with the massive and knowledgeable public attendance at their events and the extensive readership of the Irish Countrysports and Country Life magazine. have been at the forefront of promoting the eating of game and fish in Ireland.

A typical classic Roast goose dish from Emmett McCourt

Emmett will be demonstrating his considerable skills at Shanes Castle on the Irish Countrysports and Country Life stand with both modern and classical recipes.

There will be opportunities to sample Emmett's cooking and even perhaps to take some home for your dinner and if his demos have your taste buds tingling why not also visit the Fine Food Pavilion.

Fine Food Pavilion

As usual the Fine Food hall has a mass of succulent delicacies including honey and the bees that make it; the ladies from Mid Ireland Tourism and Shannon Development in their Georgian dress with all types of food, craft and holiday delights; the 'World's top Whiskey' Cooley will be there to give you a nip; and a vast range of cheeses; meats ; breads and other foods to tempt the most discriminating pallet. Pride of place in this pavilion must always go to Peter Gott one of the real 'Slow Food Heroes' with his Silfield Farm stand featuring his legendary Game Pies, venison sausages, and dry cured bacon although the ladies from Mid Ireland Tourism must run him a good second.

Peter Gott & The Ladies from Mid Ireland Tourism

The trade stand areas at both Birr and Shanes have also been extended with most of the old favourites in clothing, guns & tackle there. At Shanes a massive display of guns by Donal McCloy Guns Unlimited is part of a greatly extended Gunmakers Row' that will include – six displays of guns plus gun fitting,valuation and engraving.

Jack Pike the well known clothing and accessories company will be joining the Firefly Stand and sponsoring some facets of the show. Clarkes of Enniskillen will also be there with their unique representation in Ireland of the Schoffel brand as well as their fine range of tweeds and hats.

The Fisherman's Row has also been extended with a fine selection of rods, tackle boats and holidays. This will be supported by a Fly Tying Marquee and casting tuition by Glenda Powell and the team from APGAI.

Paul Morgan from coch y bondu books with probably the best range of shooting, fishing, gundogs, hunting and terrier & lurcher books in the UK will be a magnet for all you bibliophiles while other fascinating stands can be found in the Canine Row with everything for the dog. And Bridport nets all the way from Dorset every kind of net imaginable and other equipment is well worth a visit.

The rest of the huge tented village of trade stands has everything to buy into the country lifestyle including country crafts, while the Game Keepers Area has one of the best Game Displays seen at any Fair and of course we have the ferreting stand of Ireland's Mr Ferret Tony Carinduff.

Most of these attractions will be replicated or even enhanced at the Irish Game & Country Fair, Birr Castle Co Offaly so why not treat you and your family to two great days out at Ireland's premier game fairs.

The Fair is supported by a number of very generous sponsors including the NITB & Antrim Borough Council.

For further details call: 028 (from ROI 048) 44615416 E: irishgamefair@btinternet.com www.irishgameandcountryfair.com www.countrysportsandcountrylife.com or see the Summer edition of the Countrysports and Country Life magazine in the shops at the end of May.

Ireland's Real Game Fairs