Limerick Show was held in Greenpark Racecourse, South Circular Road, Limerick without a break, since it was revived in 1929. There is evidence of a Limerick Show having been held at various venues throughout the then suburbs of the city as far aback as the 1880’s until the start of World War 1 in 1914.

A number of prominent city business people, with the support of the fifth Earl of Dunraven, revived what has now become one of Ireland’s leading Agricultural Shows. Greenpark became home for the Society’s Annual Show, due to ninety-nine year lease obtained from the Limerick Race Company and the generosity of the Earl of Dunraven, who decided early on that without buildings to house the Cattle, Horticulture, Craft and Trade Stand sections these would not grow in popularity. His foresight proved to correct over the years.

For a number of decades the event was known as the “Horse Show”. The mid-week date, until 1988, was an occasion where local business people by tradition, granted their staff a half-day so that they could visit the “Horse Show”, which they did in their thousands.

Limerick Show Society has been fortunate in the quality and the leadership given by various officers since the 1929 revival. They have been conscious that they had a major part to play in bringing to the farming community in particular, the vast and rapid changes which the mechanical age brought to farming since the 1930’s. The traders of the region were strong in their support - and they still are – and availed of the opportunity which Limerick Show offered them to display their new machines and goods.

From 1997 to 2000, due to the development of housing in Greenpark, the Show moved to a green-field site in Adare. This was given, courtesy of the County Limerick Hunt, and the show took place for four years in the beautiful surroundings of Clonshire.

Meanwhile work started on the new racecourse in Patrickswell. In 2001, because of the Foot & Mouth outbreak in Britain, Limerick Show, along with many others, did not take place.In 2002 we moved into temporary offices in the new racecourse. Building of the new office then took place and we are now housed permanently here.

These offices were officially opened by Mr Pat Cox, President of the European Parliament on Monday, 14th July.

Today the Show incorporates a varied and entertaining programme in its two-day week-end formula. This ranges from the best of Cattle, Horses, Sheep, Show Jumping, Crafts and Horticulture. Machinery, old and new, Outdoor and Indoor Trade Stands, Exhibitions, Children’s and Adult’s Entertainment, Stock Judging, a Dog Show and a Driving Class, together with the ever popular All-Ireland Final of the Inter Hunt Chase.

The Show continues to expand every year, seeking new members, new sponsors and introducing new classes and features where possible. The Society values highly all those willing volunteers and organisations who help every year. Without them and all those steadfast people in business who have stood firm during the good and bad years, it would not be possible for the Show to carry on.

The Society very much hopes that they will continue to support and encourage the Show – a valuable and historic part of the culture of Limerick.