Another Top Class Virginia Show

Crowds flocked to Cavan this week to experience all the 2018 Virginia Show had to offer. From Diageo Baileys Champion Cow to a visit from An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, there was huge excitement on the day.

Diageo Baileys Champion Cow

Ireland's finest example of the Holstein Friesian breed was crowned Diageo Baileys Champion at the Virginia Agricultural Show. She is Drumlina Atwood Megan owned by a syndicate of breeders from Co. Monaghan chaired by David Boyd.

The winning breeders were presented with the Virginia Milk Products Cup and a prize of 2,500 Euros by Vice President of the European Parliament Mairead McGuiness along with the competition’s sponsors Diageo Ireland and its cream supplier Glanbia Ireland.

Milliedale Dusk Rhapsody owned by Donal Neville from Co. Limerick was declared Reserve Champion. Honourable Mention went to Aiden Foody from Co. Mayo for their cow Sprucerove Apples Peggy.

A number of Glanbia Milk Suppliers were among the prize winners on the day including:

• Best EBI Award to Evergreen Gala 6, Glanbia Supplier Liam Murphy, Co. Carlow;

• Best Junior Cow Winner, Hallow Attwood Grace, Glanbia Supplier Philip Jones, Co. Wexford;

Other prizes were awarded including:

• Best Heifer in Milk Winner, Sprucerove Apples Peggy, Aiden Foody, Co. Mayo;
• Best Protein Award to Sprucegrove Lavanguard Peggy, Aiden Foody, Co. Mayo;

Speaking at the event Martin Keane, Glanbia Group Chairman praised all the entrants for the calibre of pedigree cows on display and he congratulated the Virginia Show on 35 Years of the All-Island Champion Dairy Cow Contest.

“The competition attracts the super-elite of the Holstein Friesian breed with a €10,000 prize fund on offer,” he said. “It is the hard work and community spirit of exhibitors, competitors and volunteers that have combined to make this particular show such an enduring success for 77 years.”

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar

We were delighted to welcome An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who joined us at this year’s Virginia Show.

He stopped by our Glanbia Ireland stand during his visit and spoke to Glanbia Group Chairman Martin Keane.

A word of thanks to all of our suppliers and customers who visited our stand.

We now turn our attention to the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan, Tullamore, Co. Offaly from 20 – 22 of September. Visit the Glanbia Ireland stand at Block 1 | Row 11 | Stand -238. Check out our events calendar for further information.

First Published 23 August 2018