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markets · Wednesday 12 August 2026 · 9:00am 
Gort Agricultural Show
At Gort · Gort, Co. Galway
At Gort · Gort, Co. Galway
The Gort Agricultural Show is one of south Galway’s great summer days out - a proper county show that has been growing steadily since 1981 and now draws competitors and visitors from across Connacht and beyond. The 36th edition runs across the town on 12 August and admission is free, making it an easy choice for families, photography enthusiasts, farming folk, and anyone curious about what a well-run Irish country show actually looks like.
With 230 competitive classes spread across the town, there is a fair amount of ground to cover. The Community Centre fills up with indoor exhibits - home baking, arts and crafts, gardening, flowers, and a strong children’s section where entries have been rising year on year. Outside, horses, ponies and donkeys move to the showground at Lavally on the Loughrea Road, with their section starting from 11:30am. Dogs have their own area at the community school, and poultry occupies a dedicated marquee.
The photography competition is where Gort stands apart. The show hosts the All-Ireland Photography Final, sponsored by Gort and District Lions Club, with €500 in prize money and the St Francis Trophies Perpetual Cup for the winner. It is the only agricultural show in Ireland to carry this distinction, which draws serious camera club entries from around the country.
Beyond the competitive classes, past shows have included live music, vintage vehicle displays, food and craft stands, bread making and cake decorating demonstrations, and children’s entertainment. A bonny baby competition typically gets going around 2pm, alongside the most appropriately dressed lady and gentleman contests - good-natured fun that keeps the afternoon moving.
Gort sits on the N18 road, approximately 35 kilometres south of Galway City and around 20 kilometres north of Ennis. If you are coming from Galway, the drive takes about 30 to 35 minutes; from Limerick, allow a little over an hour via the M18. Bus Éireann operates services on the Galway - Limerick corridor that stop in Gort, so travelling without a car is possible. Parking in Gort town tends to be on-street and in local car parks; arrive early for the best spots, as the show draws a sizeable crowd.
Gort is a compact market town with a friendly atmosphere and a few decent places to eat and drink within easy walking distance of the show grounds. The surrounding south Galway landscape - limestone plain, low stone walls, and the Burren on the horizon - is worth a slow drive if you have the afternoon free. There is more to see in Gort and across Co. Galway.
Heading to Gort in Gort? Galway has plenty more to see. Read the Gort area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.