Families and Countrysports enthusiasts are in for a actual treat because the points of interest, sounds and tastes that Northern Ireland has to offer are fused together within the beautiful surroundings of Scarvagh House for the NI Countrysports Fair on May 25 & 26.
The annual party of all matters u . S . Attracts round 25,000 traffic every yr to the sprawling 340 acre estate in Co Armagh.
Yet once more this yr, the occasion has some thing for every age and interests from World War II re-enactments to beehive demonstrations and of course there will be a mouth-watering fayre from the high-quality of Northern Ireland’s homegrown food and drink manufacturers.
Run by way of the NI Heritage and Rural Life Society that’s headed by using Derek and Gillian Lutton, of Foymore Lodge, the occasion is a real birthday celebration of all things usa and attracts site visitors and exhibitors from across the UK and Ireland to sample the great of rural Northern Ireland.
A packed programme of activities will take region all through the weekend with company foodie favourites returning this 12 months once more. New to the meals marquee this 12 months is the circle of relatives-run Ballylisk Dairies and Symphonia Gin even as a number of the most important and pleasant names in people tune and dancing will take to the degree throughout the two days.
Portaferry-based craftsman, Clive Lyttle, will be demonstrating the ancient arts of dry stone walling and timber turning, alongside Lisanfiffy Blacksmith’s Danna Herron. The Wartime Living History Association, a collection of enthusiasts from across Northern Ireland, will transform the Scarvagh House grounds into the battlefields of Europe, bringing the points of interest, sounds and smells of the American and German war camps to existence as a mark of recognize to all squaddies who fought at some point of the Second World War.
Co Armagh producer Loughgall Honey can be including a real buzz with beehive demonstrations, while for the four-legged contributors of the family, there may be plenty on provide from the ‘Scruffs’ Pet Show to equestrian performances and Dog Agility Challenges.
A brilliant variety of animal treats, feed providers and dog accessories also can be purchased at some point of the weekend, while the buyers segment of the fair may have everything from hand-crafted jewelry and garb, to candies, toys and splendor products.
Live Kitchen Theatre
Mixing the best, sustainably sourced Northern Irish ingredients with global impacts from as some distance away as Australia, the Live Kitchen Theatre gives visitors an appropriate opportunity to now not handiest watch chefs prepare dinner live on stage but to flavor a mouth-watering menu of dishes showcasing the exceptional in flavours from the Food Heartland.
The group of chefs include the Bachus Group’s Executive Chef Dean Coppard, Mervyn Steenson of Groucho’s Bar in Richhill, Gary Scott who heads up the Linen Hill Deli in Banbridge and Max Buller of the Merchant Bar in Newry – have their own unique style and will bring the Theatre Kitchen to existence with interactive demonstrations so as to supply a glimpse into abilties and techniques to beautify your culinary revel in.
You’ll be spoilt for choice with regards to food and drinks so try to buy from certainly one of the most important choices of candies, jams, chutneys and cheeses to desserts, traybakes, salads and seafood to be visible at an event of this type.
Keepin’ Er Country
Heading up the invoice at the leisure programme this 12 months is former BBC Radio Ulster ‘Kist O Words’ presenter Willie Drennan who brings his inimitable mix of tune, storytelling and poetry to the Countrysports Fair along with his unmissable Folkabilly Music. There’ll be conventional tune and dancing with a difference from the Hounds of Ulster so that you can positive get the crowds dancing over the weekend.
Tribute acts offering the most important names in American us of a music will upload a touch of the trans-Atlantic to the truthful even as the organisers have showed Paul Kelly who will have people of all ages on their toes all through the two days.
Flight of Fancy
In a positive signal of its developing recognition 12 months-on-12 months, the NI Countrysports Fair attracts exhibitors from all over Ireland and the United Kingdom providing the whole thing an outdoor fanatic may want to ever need whether or not it truly is garb or equipment, fishing tackle and searching lights or canine education equipment.
Officials from prestigious countrysports businesses inclusive of the British Association for Shooting and Conversation, Countrysports Ireland and Countryside Alliance Ireland, as well as SACS Not for Profit Shooting, can also be in attendance at the event.
There’ll also be displays from SMJ Falconry from Oxenhope in West Yorkshire within the most important area, proposing demonstrations through majestic birds of prey, while Silverstream Sheepdogs and Cossack Display performer Sergiy Khimich are each equipped and waiting to thrill the onlookers with displays of agility and prowess.
Showcasing the Story of Northern Ireland
Speaking at the release, Derek Lutton stated: “This occasion has been running on the grounds that 1996, and, 12 months on 12 months, it has proved to be a big pull for attracting tourists to the area. We collaborate with a whole lot of nearby foods and drinks establishments and lodging companies to ensure our travelling site visitors live regionally that is first-rate for local groups in this location.
“As constantly, we are able to be showcasing the tale of our land and highlighting our reference to our background thru food and drink to be able to be key for our neighborhood manufacturers. There’ll be cookery demonstrations by way of some of our tons cherished cooks, masses of countrysports models and add-ons for sale and there will be stay track with bars so the craic might be high-quality.
“We may have a display of birds of prey, equestrian events, a World War Two Re-enactment, helicopter rides, traditional us of a crafts, shooting, fishing and lurcher and terrier competitions. There’ll be gun puppies and much extra.”
“The Countrysports Fair may be very a lot a countrysports event but it’s also very circle of relatives oriented that’s tested by using the growth in traveller numbers of families attending from across Northern Ireland, the rest of the United Kingdom and the South of Ireland.
“Everyone involves experience this spectacular vicinity, taste the flavours of our land, experience the craic with the locals at the same time as enjoying the huge variety of events which takes vicinity over the 2 days.”
Children under 16 pass loose and an person price tag is £12.
NI Countrysports Fairs is supported by using Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council as well as DAERA NI Regional Food Programme and Tourism NI.
