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markets · Saturday 8 August 2026 · 09:00am 
Fermanagh Show
At Fermanagh Show Grounds · County Fermanagh
At Fermanagh Show Grounds · County Fermanagh
The Fermanagh Show is one of the oldest agricultural shows on the island of Ireland, run by the County Fermanagh Farming Society which has been staging it since 1836. That is nearly two centuries of farmers, families, and food producers gathering each August to mark the season. If you have any interest in rural life, good livestock, proper crafts, or simply a day out that feels genuinely rooted in a place, this is worth the trip.
The show runs over two days at Castle Irvine Estate near Irvinestown - also known as Necarne Castle - a 230-acre estate with a grand Plantation-era house at its centre providing a striking backdrop for the livestock judging rings on the front lawn. With around 150 trade stands, there is plenty to browse alongside the competition rings: farm supplies, artisan food, crafts, tools, and gifts.
Livestock judging is the heart of it. Classes cover pedigree and commercial cattle - including Irish Moiled and Dexter breeds - plus sheep across several breeds (Swaledale, Cheviots, Blue Texel, Badger Face Welsh Mountain, Spotted Dutch), goats, poultry, and dogs. The Home Industries section covers local produce, baking, and handcrafts. Schools competitions give younger participants a stake in the day. Over 15,000 visitors typically attend across both days, so the atmosphere is busy but good-natured - the kind of crowd that knows what it has come to see.
Family activities and live entertainment fill the gaps between judging. Food stalls run throughout, and given how much ground there is to cover, most visitors spend a full day on site.
Enniskillen sits roughly in the centre of Fermanagh, well connected by road. From Dublin, the A3/N3 corridor through Cavan and Belturbet takes around two and a half hours. From Belfast, the A4 via Dungannon is about an hour and a half. The Castle Irvine Estate site is on the edge of Irvinestown, a few miles north-west of Enniskillen town. The estate offers extensive on-site car parking, which is a genuine advantage at a show this size. Public transport to the area is limited, so driving is the practical option for most visitors.
The town itself is worth time before or after - the 16th-century Enniskillen Castle and the Cole Monument are both close to the centre, and Fermanagh’s lakelands make easy afternoon walking. There is more to see in Enniskillen and across Co. Fermanagh.
Heading to Fermanagh Show Grounds in Enniskillen? Fermanagh has plenty more to see. Read the Enniskillen area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.