The countdown is on to the fourth annual Tipperary Truck Show, which has become an integral part of the Dualla Show, on Sunday, August 27. Featuring custom, vintage and working trucks, this year’s Tipperary Truck Show promises to be the biggest and best yet.
A fun day for all the family is assured at the 2017 Dualla Show which has grown beyond recognition since its inception seven years ago. Last year’s Show drew 15,000 people to the village of Dualla, which is four miles from Cashel and can be accessed from both Junction 7 (Cashel exit) and Junction 6 (Horse & Jockey exit) of the M8, and the organisers are hopeful of an even bigger turnout on the last Sunday of August.
There will be something for everyone at this year’s Show. In addition to the stalwart livestock, show-jumping, Tipperary Truck Show and tractor pulling events, there will be free entry to a Big Top Circus which will run throughout the day, while other feature events will include a Volkswagen ‘Carfest’ Car Show, high-flying wrestling, dog show, sheepdog trials, tug o’war, craft village and a health cookery demonstration by Chef Adrian in the food village. Dualla Show 2017 will also be providing an amazing amount of free children’s entertainment, with no less than 10 free inflatables in the Kids Zone.
Sponsored by local Mercedes-Benz dealership Surehaul Commercials, the Tipperary Truck Show has become one of the main attractions of the Dualla Show since it was first staged in 2014. It has grown year-on-year, from 150 truck entries in its first year to 385 last year. This year’s Show looks set to top that again, with between 450 and 500 entries expected. The Show’s organisers are Daire Maher of D Maher Haulage in Fethard, Paddy Graham of Paddy Graham Repairs in Dualla and Philip Ryan of Ryan Haulage in Littleton.
“Paddy and I have been involved with the Dualla Show from the beginning,” Daire explains.
“The Show takes place on a 43-acre site in the shadow of Ballyowen House. We could see that there was room for a Truck Show and we brought the idea to the chairman Michael D’Arcy and the rest of the committee at the Dualla Show AGM in January 2014. They thought it was a great idea and the first Tipperary Truck Show was held the following August. We had 150 entries that first year, 260 in 2015 and 385 last year.
“The entries come from all over Ireland, while Brian Rowland and Charlie Doyle are coming over from the UK with their trucks for the second year running. We’re in a great location – two hours from Dublin and one hour from Cork – just off the M8, but even allowing for that, we never expected the Show to be so successful.”
Daire is doubtful that the Tipperary Truck Show would have grown to the extent it has if it was a stand-alone event.
“The great thing about being part of the Dualla Show is the variety it offers. You don’t have to be a truck enthusiast to enjoy yourself. The Show caters for everyone and that’s why it’s such a great family day out,” he says.
“We want truck owners to come along and enjoy themselves, and to make a weekend out of it. It’s not all about having the shiniest truck like in other Truck Shows. We have trade stands as well. There is a special atmosphere that you won’t get at any other Show.”
Entry fee is €30 per truck. The Show field opens at 10am on Saturday, August 26th for truck show entrants only (it is open to the general public from 11am on Sunday, August 27th). To avoid congestion, trucks are encouraged to enter the grounds the evening before the show through the main gate. All entrants are given a wristband and trailer parking facilities are also available. A spectacular Lights Show will take place at 9pm on the Saturday evening, while live music and a DJ will also set the mood for the main event on Sunday.
The 11 classes / categories are as follows: Best Tractor Unit; Best New Truck; Best Rigid Truck; Best Custom Truck; Best Vintage Truck (Pre-1990); Best Light Commercial Truck / Van; Best Pre-2007 Working Truck; Best Truck and Trailer Combination; Best Small Fleet (1-3 vehicles); Best Fleet (4 or more vehicles); Truck of the Show.
The Tipperary Truck Show wouldn’t happen without the support of its main sponsor Surehaul and additional sponsors Midlands Hire, Borris-on-Ossory; Bridgestone Tyres Ireland; Harris Truck Centre, Dublin; Delaney Commercials, Naas; Mike Moran M7 Trailers, Kill, Co. Kildare; Obama Plaza, Moneygall; Tierney International Transport; McCarthy Commercials, Waterford; Casey Trailers, Naas; Maguire International Transport, Monaghan.
The Dualla Show is proud to have contributed over €100,000 to local charities and organisations over the last six years. These include Wee Peter Heart Fund; Order of Malta; CARE Cancer Support Centre; Friends of St. Patrick’s Hospital; Suir Haven Cancer Support; Bothar; St. Vincent de Paul; Order of Malta; Cashel Day Care; Hope Foundation; Irish Cancer Society; Scoil Chormaic; Dualla National School; Cashel Community School; Boherlahan-Dualla Senior Citizens; Boherlahan-Dualla GAA; St. Patrick’s Brass Band, Cashel.
“We’ve always been blessed with good weather and hopefully this year will be no different,” Daire concludes.
Admission for the general public is €15, while U16s are free. See you there!
Details of the 2017 Tipperary Truck Show and how to enter can be found on www.duallashow.ie/trucks or on Facebook or Twitter. For any other enquiries, contact Daire Maher on 086 257 4631, Philip Ryan on 086 833 4377 or Paddy Graham on 086 686 2609.
