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For us at Devlin Farm Life, we are excited to attend our local Louisburgh horse show and The Carrowniskey races.

This summer, all across Ireland, a myriad of different Agricultural events are taking place.

Louisburgh Horse Show, Carrawmore Beach

After the past two years of disappointment with the shows being cancelled due to the

Coronavirus, I’m excited to attend The Louisburgh and Carrowniskey Races this coming July

and August.

Horse Show Jumping

Feeling sentimental

I’m feeling very sentimental this year. Our kids loved attending these local events, and we

used it as family time, creating great memories. My husband and I kept our calendar free, so

there were no holidays or excursions on those particular weekends. The children are now

young adults, our daughter has completed her first year in college, and our son is heading into

his final year of Secondary school. So this year might be our last family day out for a while.

Our children at a GAA event

Louisburgh Horse Show

How to get there?

Take the R335 scenic road from Westport and drive through Louisburgh town and over the

bridge. You will come to a crossroads. Turn right, watch for signage of Louisburgh Horse

Show and Carrawmore Beach. Drive forward, take the 2nd right, and look for horse show

signs. The horse show is a massive community effort; you will meet many local volunteers

along the road directing you to the show. When you get to the car park, these volunteers will

help you with the parking.

Horse Jumping

Weather

Here in the West of Ireland, the rain is a frequent visitor. We usually check the forecast on

our local radio as a rough indicator if we have a shower. At Devlin Farm, we check for the

sky over Clare Island on the morning of the event. Clare Island is our weather forecaster. If the Island appears to be near, that significant rain will be making an appearance.

Clare Island

From my

experience, bring a light rain jacket, umbrella and wellies. For young toddlers, a waterproof

rain cover over the stroller is convenient. If the sky is blue, a pair of shorts, sunscreen and a

sun hat is all you need. The weather is rapidly changing along the wild Atlantic way, be

prepared for weather changes.

Organisation

Organising these one-day events while making it Covid safe is a huge challenge. However,

the local committee will use their experience and organisational skills to ensure everything

runs smoothly. The show runs from 11 am till 5 pm and attract thousands of visitors. Tickets

are available online or at the gate.

Louisburgh Horse Show Sunday 17th July 2022

Carrawmore strand is located 1 km on the outskirts of Louisburgh town. It is situated in a

special protection and conservation area. The beach has access to ample parking and a toilet

area. To access the shore, you have to clamber down concrete steps; you have endless views

of the pier, sandy shore and Clare Island. The local Louisburgh Horse is held on its grounds

in June or July every year.http://www.louisburghhorseshow.ie/louisburghhorseshow.ie/Louisburgh_Horse_Show_Society_Welcome.html

The atmosphere at the Louisburgh Horse Show is electric. All the years we have been

attending, the weather has been perfect. The vibe at the show and in particular for the dog

events is always exciting, especially for the children. Our daughter entered many times with her dogs, who won a few rosettes. We come from a somewhat equestrian background.

Dog Show competition

We used to have two Connemara Ponies. Our children used to horse ride when they were in

primary school. Our daughter continued till her late teens. While our children never competed

in the horse jumping events, we love to watch. There is something extraordinary about

horses.

Dog show competition

Another event to watch out for is the sheep show. It’s lovely to watch the different breeds on

display. Louisburgh is a predominant sheep farming area, and many local farmers participate

in the shows.

What would a day out be without food and drink? There are numerous vendors and Mayo

artisan showcasing homemade food.

Carrowniskey Races

Outside the events, several stands sell everything from balloons to equestrian gear for

toddlers.

Irish people love music, and there will be plenty of music and dancing on the day.

Carrowniskey Beach

Carrowniskey Races 13th August

Carrowniskey beach

A beach is so vast that it is large enough to host the Carrowniskey horse race (A traditional

beach horse racing successfully revived in 2010). In the summer, you might see motorised

kites gliding up and down its cosmic shoreline. The ocean waves are usually smothered with people zipped up in black wetsuits with surfboards.

Crowds of people outside the Marquee

Carrowniskey is 7.5kms from

Louisburgh. It is the nearest surfing beach to Westport town. This four km-long shoreline

haven extends into the delightful Cross beach. But nothing beats seeing it in real life.

The Races

Carrowniskey Races is a fantastic day out if you visit the area in August. It is suitable for all

the family. There is something for everyone, young and old. For us, it is a great family day

out, meeting friends and neighbours. There are bouncy castles, slides, face painting, balloon

makers, ice cream and a power kite demonstration if you have young children.http://www.carrowniskeyraces.ie/

Races on the beach

There are ten races on the beach. Out of those ten races, two are local, horses and ponies. The

other eight races are MHPRA (Midland Horse & Pony Racing Association). We are not

regular gamblers. However, a day at the races is impossible without putting on a bet. There is

a designated area where you will find the bookies. There you can place your bet for as

little as €2.50. The horses come from all over Ireland.

Louisburgh and Killen people love music and dancing. The specially erected Marquee is

smack in the middle of everything, where people can dance and have a drink. Moreover, the

Marquee is ideal if there is a downpour of rain.

Carrowniskey Beach

Conclusion

If you are around Mayo these weekends, you will not be disappointed. Over the years, these

days out have been a great way to meet up with family and friends and have a happy, chilled-

out day. For more information, check out their websites and social media pages.

Check out Devlin farm life blogpostshttps://devlinfarmlife.com/5-activities-to-try-in-louisburgh/

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