BANDON Agricultural Show is about bringing both country and town people together for a family fun event, according its chairman, Dermot O’Leary.

He was speaking at the launch of this year’s show held in the Munster Arms Hotel in Bandon on Tuesday where Moira Murrell, chief executive of Cork County Council, was the guest speaker.

This year’s show, which has been taking place since 1951, will be held at the showgrounds in Castle Bernard on Sunday May 17th.

‘Bandon Show is about putting your best foot forward and it gives people a chance to show what the can do in all aspects of the show,’ he said.

Moira Murrell spoke about the huge investment that Bandon town has received in recent years including the town’s flood defence scheme, public realm works, new library and playground and the Clare O’Leary Walk.

‘To see the progress in the town is great and that started with the town’s flood relief scheme. Bandon is the fifth largest town in the county and the third with the highest growth with huge population growth,’ she said.

At the Bandon Show launch were James Daly, Representing Access Credit Union, Myra Dineen, Show committee, and Pat Walshe, Show committee.

She also spoke about progressing the completion of the Southern bypass for the town with a final route selection to be decided in the coming weeks.

‘We are at stage two of the process and getting to stage three and four is very important. This is huge progress and we have the funding to bring it through to this stage.’

This year’s show, which is one of the top shows in the Munster area, will offer a wide range of classes from horses, ponies, dairy and beef cattle, poultry, dogs, domestic arts and horticulture.

There will also be a wide range of activities from the animal pet farms, children’s amusement and live music as well as Best Dressed competition.

See www.bandonshow.com for more details.