Omagh Show cancelled for second year running

THE ever-popular Omagh Show has been cancelled for a second year running owing to ongoing Covid restrictions.

At the Tyrone Farming Society’s annual meeting last week, executive members decided that the farming showpiece, which is traditionally held on the first weekend of July, wouldn’t go ahead in 2021.

Show chairman, Joe Crozier, said there were too many obstacles and unknowns to even consider staging the agricultural extravaganza.

“The bottom line is you need to be planning for a show from the beginning of the year, but the way things are we aren’t in a position to plan anything,” said the chairman.

“It just isn’t feasible. A lot of our judges come from the Republic and, as we know, their vaccination programme is behind where we are.

“We just couldn’t do it. We are going to have to put it down to another bad year. Last year I said we would bounce back bigger and better in 2021, but it’s just not possible.

“No show for two years running is a bit disheartening but there’s nothing we can do about it. We simply can’t take any risks.

“It’s very disappointing but at last week’s meeting the vote was almost unanimous. We considered all the options but once again we have had to admit defeat.”

A number of show organisers across the North have expressed real concern regarding the future of some annual events, but the Society chairman said there were no such worries around Omagh’s big day out.

The Seskinore businessman is in no doubt that the gates of the Drumquin Road showgrounds will be thrown open again when it’s safe to do so.

“There are a lot of shows crying for help and there are fears some may not open their gates again,” he continued.

“Thankfully, we would be a better position than most shows given we have other income including from the variety market which continues to run every Monday.”

At last week’s AGM, held via Zoom, all but one of the officers and executive committee members were returned en masse.

The Society also presented two cheques of £1, 000 each to Rural Support and the Air Ambulance.

Show organisers have continued to present bursaries to the three main CAFRE colleges at Greenmount, Loughry, outside Cookstown, and Enniskillen.