All Good at Iverk AGM
A great crowd, a packed room, a terrific atmosphere, accounts in the correct colour, increased sponsorship for 2018 and a wonderful supper all made for a very good Iverk Show annual general meeting this week.
In his report chairman Robert Dowley thanked everyone for the superb effort put in by all the committee and volunteers in making the 2017 show one of the best in the long history of the show. He singled out the land owners for special mention.
While the show owns about 20 acres of land we simply could not run the event without the generous cooperation of adjoining landowners. In all the show cover around 200 acres.
Robert said An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar who opened the show was very impressed with the size and scope of the day. He said Mr Varadkar spoke to so many and was in no rush around. Leo even tried leading a bull calf around the ring. ‘Who knows’, Robert said with tongue in cheek ‘the Pope might open this year’s show’!!!
The chairman thanked the all the sponsors both big and small – “everyone is important” he said. Then he informed the meeting that ALDI, ABP and the Irish Angus Society were increasing their sponsorship by a massive 30% and will now reach €30,000. A third All Ireland Championship will be included.
The fashion show, most appropriately dressed lady competition, the Emergency Services village and the revamped food market were very successful. Robert thanked the Doctors, Garda, Ambulance Service, Vets, Farriers, volunteers and stewards especially Michael Phelan, Conor Fitzgerald and their team as they in fact never see much of the show as their day is spent parking cars and managing traffic.
The support received from our local councillors, Kilkenny County Council, Kilkenny LEADER Partnership, Kilkenny Tourism, Kilkenny Local Enterprise, Kilkenny and Waterford Chambers of Commerce, KCLR, The Munster Express and the press and local radio was also acknowledged.
The biggest cheer of the night was reserved for Anne Marie Power of Anne Marie Power & Co, Accountants and Auditors, when she announced a very good set of financial figures. She did give one word of advice that we must continue to develop and improve the internal audit and control systems we have in place.
On closing the meeting Robert Dowley said the planning of our 192nd year starts now.
At Mass before the meeting we remembered those who have gone before us and their contribution to the development of the show to where it is today.