Attractions

The objective of the Great Game Fairs of Ireland is to organise events with real family appeal for all those who live work or play in the Irish countryside. Programme of Events

Apart from the fantastic in situ attractions offered by the Birr Demesne(see www.birrcastle.com), the Fair has a wide range of competitions, displays, demonstrations, trade stands and exhibits to appeal to anyone who lives, works or plays in the Irish countryside.

Ongoing Displays and Demonstrations over both days

Equestrian displays including Dragoons and Cochise Horses; Children's Learning and Entertainment Area (normal amusements climbing wall, quads etc but also conservation, Science and natural history exhibits); rural crafts; artists in action; game cookery & fine food; Falconry & Ferrets Display; World of Dogs display (displays by the various dog clubs of sporting and Irish breeds): vintage cars; gardening and horticultural displays; opportunity to see the estate gardens; Medieval Village with music, cookery, weapon making and handling; historical talks; theatre and drama; traditional music; Game Displays; Fly casting tuition; air rifle shooting; traditional farming displays, stick making displays and pole turning; children's casting tuition on lake.

Medieval Village

Ferrets & Falcons

Huge Country Lifestyle Tented Village of Trade Stands

Includes Country Homes & Gardens; Antiques, Art, Fine Furnishing and Interior Design; Country Sports & Clothing; Anglers Row with fantastic display of tackle and angling holidays; Good Gunmakers Row; Taxidermy, Country Sports; Equestrian products; Country Cars and 4x4 Row; Conservation, Property and Tourism Pavilion; Fine Food & Drinks Pavilion including Farmer's market; Art & Crafts Pavilion; World of Dogs Pavilion; Beauty, Mind, Body & Health Pavilion. Plus Childrens Learning and entertainment area

Main Arena Programme sponsored BY IFA Countryside (www.ifacountryside.ie) (Times to be confirmed): Continuous programme of events from 10.00 to 6.00

Flycasting by Philip Maher, Glenda Powell And Robert Gillespie; Final of Fly Casting; Gundog Demonstrations; Terrier & Lurcher racing; Ferret Racing; Horse and Hound Displays; Parade of Gundogs and Irish Breeds; Carriage Driving; Medieval Displays; Falconry Display; Cochise Horses Western Riding Display; Marching Band; Historical Military Displays etc

Equestrian style and panache from
the Cochise Horses & Mounted Dragoons

Terriers and Lurchers (Main Sponsor Irish Countrysports and Country Life magazine)

Often the "Cinderella" event at country shows, Game Fairs organised by this team have always provided excellent facilities for terriers and lurchers and this year the Fair will feature arena displays both days with the main show and racing organised by the Mid Antrim Terrier & Lurcher Club on Sunday starting 12.30. There will also be a pet show with childrens handling classes.

Terriers & Lurchers

For those with a GOOD ARM

Rachcormac Game and Wildfowl Society are running a number of games of skill, strength and accuracy to raise money to purchase bogs & wetlands. We ask you to give them your full support and perhaps win a number of very nice prizes including Wellingtons sponsored by Richard the Wellieman.

Games include: Throwing the Wellie, Thowing the 56 Lb weight, Throwing the horshoe and throwing a dog training dummy into a barrel.

Clay Shooting (Main Sponsor Ardee Sports)

The clay shoot at the Irish Game and Country Fair at Birr Castle to be held on 25th and 26th of August will be hosted by Derrinsallow Shoot who are based in Birr.

The Irish Game and Country Fair Challenge

This will be a Sporting Clay Shoot with prizes valued in excess of €10000. The top prize is a Beretta 687 EELL valued at €6500 kindly sponsored by David Brennan of the Ardee Sports Company. (www.ardeesports.com). With a fantastic array of prizes and all class winners qualifying for the final this really is a unique opportunity for any competent shot to "get among the prizes." See full details under Events.

Car parking for Clay Shooters and Terrier & Lurcher handlers will be in the Mount Palmer part of the estate. Entrance gate C will be on the Roscrea Road side of town.

Gundogs (Main Sponsor Massbrook Kennels)

Gundogs in some ways take pride of place at Birr Castle with national and international competitions on both days sponsored by Massbrook Kennels, Collier Jackson-Stops, Runnakorp and Stuart Dunn. Saturday sees international and national spaniel tests organised by the English Springer Spaniel Club of Ireland with a supporting minor breeds event organised by the Irish Water Spaniel Club. On Sunday it is the turn of the retrievers with National and International Retriever Tests organised by the Broadmeadows Gundog Club. In addition there will be parades of gundogs and gundog demonstrations and a World of Gundogs sponsored by Pedro Dog Food.

We are delighted to report that Courtlough Shooting Grounds have sponsored the two ROI teams.

Car parking for Gundog handlers will be accessed through Gate A the Croghan Gate on the Killeen Road. For Further details see Events.

Angling (Main Sponsor Dunfly Tackle)

Coaching from Glenda Powell

The Fair will host one of the best outdoor angling shows ever mounted in Ireland.

The angling section of the Fair is sited in the picturesque setting of the beautiful lake and is being co-ordinated by Angling Director Philip Maher.

Apart from an outstanding range of quality tackle stands in the Anglers Row where one can browse for all the major brands and even find a bargain or two, Philip has put together an imaginative programme of demonstrations, coaching & tuition and casting competitions including attempts on the World and Irish Trout distance casting records Fuller details in Events.