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markets · Saturday 12 September 2026 · Various 
Strokestown Show
At Strokestown Show Grounds · Bawn Street, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon
At Strokestown Show Grounds · Bawn Street, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon
One of the most established shows on the Irish agricultural calendar, the Strokestown Show has been running for well over 150 years and draws thousands of visitors to Co. Roscommon each September. Admission is free, the atmosphere is genuinely communal, and the day covers enough ground - livestock, horses, crafts, food, and live music - that you can spend hours without backtracking. It suits farming families, food lovers, and anyone who wants a proper day out in the midlands rather than a ticketed headline act.
The show is built around competition, and the scale of it surprises first-timers. There are over 280 classes across all categories, with a prize fund approaching €100,000 - among the largest of any provincial show in Ireland. The cattle section runs All-Ireland championship classes, and the sheep ring covers native Roscommon breeds alongside Suffolks and Texels. Equestrian classes range from Irish Draught horses and brood mares with foals through to ponies and ridden classes, with the horse show section alone drawing significant sponsorship.
Beyond the rings, “Flavours from the Heart of Ireland” is a food and drinks fair with more than 50 artisan producers on site - a proper farmers’ market embedded in the show grounds. Top chefs carry out cookery demonstrations through the day. The crafts and home industries section covers photography, horticulture, flower arranging, handcrafts, and junior art. A vintage machinery display, a lively dog show with over 20 classes, and a pet parade round things out for younger visitors. Live music plays through the afternoon.
The grounds at Bawn Street are railed and fenced throughout - uncommon outside the RDS - which keeps the flow of people manageable even on a busy day. A shuttle buggy runs between the car park and the main arena.
Strokestown sits on the N5 Dublin to Castlebar road, roughly 20 km east of Roscommon town and about 135 km from Dublin. By car, it is an easy two-hour drive from the capital. Bus Éireann operates services along the N5 corridor, with stops in Strokestown, though frequency is limited on weekends so it is worth checking timetables in advance. Most visitors arrive by car; there is parking available with the shuttle service running to the show grounds.
The town itself is worth time before or after the show. Strokestown Park House and the Irish National Famine Museum sit just off the main street and are open to visitors throughout the season. There is more to see in Strokestown and across Co. Roscommon.
Heading to Strokestown Show Grounds in Strokestown? Roscommon has plenty more to see. Read the Strokestown area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.