Cork’s biggest two-day festival of food, farming and fun will return to the Cork Showgrounds this weekend. Upwards of 50,000 visitors are expected to make their way to the two-day Cork Summer Show which takes place on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th June after a two-year absence due to the pandemic
The Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Gillian Coughlan welcomed the return of the much-loved annual event highlighting how, “Cork County Council’s lead sponsorship of the Cork Summer Show has been in place since 2015 and is a partnership between two organisations who champion the best of Cork. Visitors can discover just how many services are provided by Cork County Council, from our lifeguards to our libraries while also discovering everything that we as a Council aim to promote though the great food, music, farming heritage and innovation that makes Cork County truly unique. I would like to encourage everyone to pay a visit to the show and savour for themselves the very best that Cork has to offer.”
More than 200 traders from all over Ireland have booked space in the trade zone area which will feature Food, Fashion, Fun, Health and Wellness, Gardening and Lifestyle, and Agricultural Machinery. The indoor food market also returns with offerings from artisan food producers and craft breweries. New to the show is the ‘Local Enterprise Zone – Reboot’ with over 40 Cork micro enterprises showcasing their products and services. This Zone will feature stands selling a diverse range of products, from skincare to candles and from handbags to cheese. This is part of the Local Enterprise Office Reboot initiative to support small businesses relaunch and reboot post the pandemic in Cork.
Robert Harkin, President of the Munster Agricultural Society said, “our trade zone provides a platform for new enterprises to gain name recognition and secure sales in a friendly and supportive environment. Visitors to the Show will be impressed by the diverse range of traders assembled in the one location. The benefit to the local economy is more than just financial – it is an endorsement of Cork as a strong and vibrant place of work.”
The two-day show will also feature traditional showing classes for cattle, sheep, goats, horses and poultry as well as floral art, horticulture, arts, crafts and baking. In addition, the festival has two full days of live music including a performance by the Army No.1 band on Saturday.
Visitors travelling from the city are encouraged to avail of the park and ride buses from the Black Ash and Ballincollig Shopping Centre or to take Bus Eireann’s 208 route direct to the Showgrounds. There is ample free parking onsite for those travelling by car. The showgrounds are wheelchair and buggy accessible and there is free entry for children under 12 years of age.
Source: Cork County Council
