180 Years
Mohill Agricultural Show 1927 - 1999
The First Agricultural Show in South Leitrim was held in Mohill or 29th October 1844.
"The South Leitrim Society was established for the purpose of improving the general condition of the farming and labouring classes, by the introduction improved system husbandry upon the small farms, by giving an encouragement to rural manufacturers suited to the circumstances e the country, and by awakening a spirit of emulation, that may lead to the increase and more profitable employment of the population the district".
Between 1844 and 1909 other shows took place, the number is not known.
When Canon M.J. Masterson came to Mohill as P.P in 1924 he quickly became involved in local activities. By 1926 he had laid out a framework reviving an Agricultural Show Society. On Wednesday 31st August 1927 the first show as it is today was held in the Workhouse grounds and buildings, and in Higgins field (now McIntyres' Garage). This laid the foundation stone for Mohill Agricultural Show Ltd as it is today. There were 207 entries at the 1844 show. The 1927 show attracted 1170 entries consisting of Cattle, Horses, Sheep, Swine and Poultry. The most innovative class was for the best Donkey and trap driven for Style and Appearance. Since then successive generations of town and a country people in the area have endeavoured to adhere to the aspirations of the 1927 show and its illustrious committee. After 9 successful shows, in 1935 the committee commenced negotiations to purchase land from Mr. Sodan and Mr. McKenna on the Dromod Road. On the 22nd April 1936 was proposed to purchase the lands at a cost of £260 thus began The Park as we know it today. was some years before the Show was held in the new grounds. The work involved in levelling the Park and building the exhibit sheds, as they are today, was under the leadership of the late Tom Devine BAg. Hort, Horticulture Inspector in Mohill. Town and ntry contributed very generously to this work. Today we remember with pride and gratitude the mammoth task the committee of the day undertook and so successfully accomplished.
The facilities had been put in place, and despite the constraints of the 'war years" and the occasional wet day the show prospered. Music was supplied by the Garda, Army, and more local Bands. The format remained the same, but as the years went by new classes and attractions were added. Unfortunately the Horse and Pony jumping events had to be discontinued, but new interests emerged, notably "The Bonny Baby, "The Best Dressed Lady", "Dog Show" and a variety of photo and calligraphy exhibits, together with many educationala helps. Naturally there were changes in the committee, many passing to their eternal reward. The Joint Secretaries Mr. F. Flynn N.T. and Mr. M.J. Kenny were succeeded by Mr. M.H. McGowan who carried the very responsible task for 33 years until 1982. He in turn has been replaced his equally competent daughter Lourda and Mrs Aideen Heuston.
Today as Mohill Show approaches it's 74th consecutive show it attracts Cattle and Horses from the length and breadth of the country. It has entries of just under 200 and is a very active member of The Irish Shows Association. The committee greatly appreciate the very generous sponsorship it enjoys and the sincere interest of town and country. It is deeply grateful to the judges, exhibitors, spectators and stewards who so willingly give of their time and energy. The committee remembers with pride and gratitude the founding fathers who had the determination and foresight to establish The Show in 1927 and all successive committees who have maintained that tradition to the present day.
Article written by Liam Ellis R.I.P former Chairman of Mohill Show for the Mohill Re – Membered Book published in 2000
Mohill’s Connection To Father Of Irish Beekeeping
The Beekeepers from Mohill and the surrounding area had the privilege of naming their Group the Digges & District Beekeeping Association after Rev. Joseph Garvan Digges who is considered to be the Father of Irish Beekeeping . Rev. Digges was private Chaplain to the Clements Family – Earls of Leitrim at their Lough Rynn Estate, Mohill and served at Farnaught and Mohill Churches.
His book, first published in 1904, “The Irish Bee Guide” is regarded as the standard book of beekeeping in Ireland and the best of the general guides to beekeeping published in Ireland or Britain. The book was later renamed “The Practical Bee Guide – A Manual of Modern Beekeeping” and was based on his work and research on beekeeping carried out at his Rectory at Clooncahir , Mohill.
Modern Irish beekeeping owes much to a local man, the Reverend Joseph Robert Garven Digges, who although born in Dublin, he spent much of his life in Mohill, Co. Leitrim. Educated at the High School of Erasmus Smith in Harcourt St., Dublin, he later entered Trinity College as a pensioner in 1879, being awarded the degree of B.A.(Resp.) in 1882 and in 1885 an M.A. Ordained in 1883, he became Deacon in Kilmore, Co. Cavan, and then Curate in Mohill until 1884 and then 1884-5 at St. George's, High St., Belfast. In 1885, he became the private chaplain to the Clements family (the Earls of Leitrim) at their Lough Rynn Estate at Mohill. He served Farnaught and Mohill Churches and from 1933 the parish of Cloone.
The Reverend Digges had his first bee-keeping lesson in 1885, at Clooncahir, Mohill and thereafter was hooked. He joined the Irish Beekeepers Association and was Chairman from 1910 to 1921. He was Editor of the Irish Bee Journal, (from 1912 called The Beekeeper's Gazette) published from May 1901 to October 1933. In the 33 years of publication, he only missed 4 issues - the May 1916 issue was blown up on the way to the printers during the Easter rising of that year.
Becoming proficient in bee-keeping, and anxious to promote the method of removing the honey crop from the hive without killing the bees, by using moveable frames, he started travelling extensively throughout Ireland on behalf of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction, attending agricultural shows and lecturing. He promoted the "Congested Districts Hive", Designed to be made and used in the poorer areas of Ireland to provide an income where the land was poor.
A great believer in promoting local industry, he helped to found the local co-operative creamery and the bank in Mohill, and was a director of the Cavan & Leitrim railway and also of the Arigna mines. Rev. Digges "was to earn high repute as a first class trouble shooter" (Flanagan, "The Cavan & Leitrim Railway" 1966) and was always sent in when problems arose.
He also published a book: The Irish Bee Guide, later renamed The Practical Bee Guide. A Manual of Modern Beekeeping, a book which came to be regarded as the standard book of bee keeping in Ireland. The book went through many revisions and reprints following its initial publication in 1904. It was self published in 1904 (by Lough Rynn Press), by the 4th edition in 1918, the publishers were Simpkin Marshall Hamilton Kent & Co. Ltd. London - later it was published by Talbot press, Dublin until its 16th edition in 1950. It sold 76,000 copies.
The book was republished in 2004 to celebrate its centenary of publication.
He died dramatically during a confirmation service in Farnaught Church in 1933 and is buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery in Dublin, beside his wife who had died in 1926. He had married Edith Bate in Belfast in 1885 and they had a son and daughter, spending their life in great comfort in the beautiful rectory at Clooncahir, Mohill.
A splendid stained-glass memorial window by Ethel Rhind (1877-1952) was placed in the Farnaught Church, which shows St. McDomnoc (Molagga) bringing the bees to Ireland.
This text is based on an article by Petra Coffey and email of Jim Ryan
The first Mohill Agricultural Show was held on the 29th of October 1844.
The following Article is taken from The Journal of Ardagh and Clonmacnois Antiquarian Society 1945 Journal (Volume 11 No. 10) It is presumed that the article was compiled by the late Canon M.J. Masterson.
Mohill Show THE FIRST AGRICULTURAL SHOW
The First Agricultural Show in South Leitrim was held at Mohill on the 29th October 1844 - one hundred years ago.
The Society had been constituted earlier in the year (19th January) and while the landlords formed the majority of members thea clergy and farmers were well represented. The patron was the Earl of Leitrim: his uncle Viscount Clements was the first President. On the Committee of Management we find Rev. James Hyde (grandfather of President Douglas Hyde) and four priests: Rev. J. Eivers, Rev. G. Gearty, Rev. M. Fanning, and Rev. James O'Farrell. While most of the names then dominating public affairs have disappeared such as La Touche, Gore, Lawder, Irwin, Norris, we find many names still familiar such as O'Brien, Smyth, Shanley Little, Duke, Quinn, Reynolds, Cox, etc. The society based their rules on those of the Ballinasloe and Limerick societies: so those 1* "The S. Leitrim Society is established for the purpose of improving the general condition of the farming and labouring classes, by the introduction of an improved system of f husbandry upon the small farms, by giving encouragement to rural manufactures suited to the circumstances of the country; and by awakening a spirit of emulation that may lead to the increased and more profitable employment of the population of the district".
The first meetings were practical. A sum of £147 was at once contributed, to advance loans to farmers and labourers for the purchase of seeds and farm implements and to finance the Show and ploughing matches. The tenants of the members had free entry to the competitions, other tenants had to pay only 1/-, 2/- or 3/- according to the size of the farms. It was co-operative in practice; only the Clerk in charge of the Loan Fund received an honoarium.
The first Show (29th Oct. 1844, at Mohill) attracted 207 entries. Considering that it was the first venture and that there were no classes for farm and garden produce, for cookery, home industries and other sections now so popular, for cookery, home industries and other sections now so popular at all Irish Shows, the Show had a respectable start. The gentry supported it, of course, but they resigned five-sixths of the exhibits to the people. For educational purposes a display of machinery was staged, one item being "an iron tramp". All who saw the prize schedule, even Judge Wylie, are puzzled by the tramp. The best guess may be that the tramp is our dear friend the loy which is really a tramp or portable plough, so useful in uprooting bushes or rushes, so essential for bursting the adaman surface of Leitrim uplands, and which only a native of S. Leitrim or N. Longford can handle with ease and efficiency. Against this theory is the fact that the loy is mainly an wooden block. But the really effective portion is the heavy iron spade or coulter which fits into the wooden socket, and produces wonderful results.
A glance at the list of Exhibitors shows that Rev. Arthur Hyde exceeded all other by entering 16 exhibits. His name appears almost every class. His name is perpetuated in Mohill, for we have Hyde St. - leading to the Dromod Road. This tribute was a spontaneous acknowledgement of high civic virtues. Lately Mohill paid a similar tribute to his grandson, President Hyde by naming a new group of houses "Hyde Terrace"
Pictured at Irish Shows Association Function Athlone 1983 to honour Harry McGowan who served as Secretary of Mohill Show for 33 yeas. Left to Right: Harry McGowan, Mae Logan-Crowe, Lourda McGowan, Aideen Abbott-Huston, Noeleen McGowan, Johnny Duignan (R.I.P.), Johnny Rowley, Madge Casey, Michael Casey, Peggy Ellis, Liam Ellis.
