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seasonal · Sunday 12 July 2026 · Various 
Mullingar Agricultural Show
At Show Grounds, Culleen · Culleen, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
At Show Grounds, Culleen · Culleen, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
The Mullingar Agricultural Show is one of the oldest continuous events in the Irish Midlands - more than 180 years old and still run by the Westmeath Show Society, a not-for-profit committee that owns the Culleen showgrounds outright. That ownership matters: it means the show has stayed put, kept its scale, and continued to draw entries from across Ireland rather than shrinking into a field day. If you have any interest in livestock, horses, dogs, crafts, or simply a full Sunday outdoors among people who take all of the above seriously, this is a good day out.
The show runs the full spectrum of traditional agricultural competition. Westmeath is cattle and sheep country, and the pedigree and commercial livestock classes are the core of the day - judges work through the rings while handlers, breeders, and curious visitors crowd the railings. Horse and pony showing is traditionally strong here too, and show-jumping draws a large entry that fills the afternoon with proper competitive riding.
Indoors, the horticultural and cookery sections bring a different kind of competitive edge - entries judged on jams, bakes, vegetables, and floral arrangements in the way that county shows across Ireland have done for generations. Arts, crafts, and photography round out the indoor hall. There is also a dog show, which tends to draw its own loyal following. The 2026 committee has flagged a few fresh additions to keep things lively for younger visitors without losing the competitive core that regulars come back for each July.
Mullingar sits at the centre of the Midlands road network. It is about 80 km west of Dublin on the N4, and the M4 motorway brings you most of the way before you drop onto local roads. From Athlone it is a straightforward 40-minute drive east on the N55. Bus Eireann serves Mullingar from Dublin Busaras (route 23) and from Athlone, with the town centre a short taxi or bus ride from the Culleen showgrounds on the edge of town. Parking is available on the showgrounds site itself, as is normal for events of this scale.
Mullingar is the county town of Westmeath and has good restaurants, pubs, and a decent town centre for an afternoon wander after the show. The lakes around the town - Lough Ennell to the south, Lough Owel to the north - are worth knowing about if you want to stretch the trip. There is more to see in Mullingar and across Co. Westmeath.
Heading to Show Grounds, Culleen in Mullingar? Westmeath has plenty more to see. Read the Mullingar area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.