Look back: When WT Cosgrave at the Iverk Show in Piltown - Kilkenny Farming

The Iverk Show will be celebrating in 2026, 200 years since the Iverk Farming Society was establish in 1826. What an achievement for a small, rural village and the families that have maintained and developed it to where it is today.

To help us celebrate we are looking for old photographs or memorabilia, including old catalogues and prize lists, of any description. If you have anything of interest do please get in touch. Contact email either pr@iverkshow.ie or secretary@iverkshow.ie. Phone: 087 2222513. Many thanks.

A summer highlight in Kilkenny, and surrounding counties,  the Iverk Show is just days away. But first, we take a look back in time, to the visit of President of the Executive Council (prime minister) WT Cosgrave in 1924. He was TD for Carlow Kilkenny at the time.

The following was the after-show report from the Iverk Show, that appeared in the Kilkenny People, in 1924

A Great Success  - President Cosgrave’s Visit

In the Earl of Bessborough’s Demesne, at Piltown, Co Kilkenny, on Thursday, the 18th instant, the Iverk Farming Society held their 97th Annual Show.

Few societies of the kind have a better record of service to the agricultural community. During the past four years, for obvious reasons, its activities were restricted but the shows were carried on, and Thursday’s event will rank as one of the best that has taken place in the Bessborough Demesne.

Outside the industrial exhibits, which were exceedingly numerous, the entries totalled 100, as compared to 170 last year. The exhibition of Shorthorns was an object lesson on the beneficial effects produced by the breeding of high-class cattle in such a district.

Equally remarkable was the display of horses. Poultry, too, showed a marked advance, the entries totalling 80, as against 72 a year ago, while the quality of the exhibits reached a very high level. This is largely due to the efforts of Col Poer O’Shee, and other enthusiasts interested in the development of the Irish Poultry Industry.

In addition to the poultry section proper, the Department of Agriculture in conjunction with the Co Committee of Agriculture, had an exhibit of educational value dealing with the breeding and management of poultry, and also the marketing of eggs. This was in charge of Miss Hackett, the course instructress in poultry keeping.

The only backward section was that of the fruit, which, considering the nature of the season, was of good quality, though hardly up to the usual standard of this fruit growing district.

From a climate point of view the show was highly favoured, and the picturesquely situated grounds looked their best.

There was a large attendance. During the afternoon, President Cosgrave, accompanied by Capt. Murphy, A.D.C., paid an informal visit to the show. He was the guest of the Very Rev. Canon Phelan, PP, of Piltown, president of the Society, and was received by Col, A. O’Shee, vice-president, Messrs. Thos O’Donnell, R. Dalton, A. G. Bowers, T. E. Tomalin, Wm Mitchell, D. Sheehan and Miss Poer O’Shee. The secretarial arrangements were well carried out by Wm Henebry.

Pictured above: Tom O'Donnell, Tinnakilly; William Mitchell, land steward, Bessborough; Dan Sheehan, creamery manager; Arthur Bowers, Silversprings; (Col. A O'Shee?); President Cosgrave; Very Rev. Canon Phelan, PP, of Piltown, Society President; R (Jot) Dalton; Miss Poer O'Shee, Tower House; Judge; (TE Tomalin?).