BREAKING: Kilkenny’s Iverk Show cancelled due to coronavirus

Ireland’s longest-running agricultural show is the latest major event to succumb to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Iverk Show which is held every year in the Showgrounds in Piltown and attracts more than 20,000 visitors through its gate, has made to the decision to cancel this year’s event, which was due to take place on Saturday, August 22.

Speaking to KilkennyNow.ie, the Iverk Show’s PRO Norman Storey said the committee had hoped they may get more time to make a decision on the agricultural show which has been running since 1826. But in light of recent .
announcements they felt they had no option but to bow to the inevitable.

“The Iverk Show is canceled for 2020 and the next show will go ahead on the August 28, 2021,” said Norman.

“We were waiting originally until after May 5 to see if there could be a possibility (of the show going ahead). But in light of the announcement that gatherings over 5,000 would not be allowed, we would have over 20,000, we had a conference call with all the officers on Monday night to discuss it.

“We pretty much knew what the decision was going to have to be. The decision was taken then in regards to the health and safety of our exhibitors, visitors, sponsors and patrons.”

Norman said the Iverk Show has had to be very flexible and reactive over the years in its response to other crises that have befallen the country.

“It has been cancelled a few times before most recently in 2001 during the foot and mouth crisis. That happened again in 1952 where the livestock classes were canceled. The show itself wasn’t,” added Norman.

“There was no show during the 1940’s because of World War II ,and then back in 1905 and 1909 there was once again disease regulations yet again which caused the cancelling of the show.

“We would like to thank everyone for their support of the Iverk Show and their understanding of this decision.

The show will go on!”