The 81st Virginia Show took place on Wednesday last, culminating in the announcement of the Diageo Baileys Champion Dairy Cow.

The winner this year was from a herd just across the Border.

Greenlea MG Rhapsody EX 96 – a nine-year-old Holstein Friesian cow, owned by brothers, Padraic and Brendan Greenan from Co. Monaghan – won the championship sponsored by Diageo and Tirlán.

The owners were presented with a cheque for €3,000 and the Virginia Milk Products Cup at the Virginia Show by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, alongside competition co-sponsors, Diageo Ireland and its cream supplier, Tirlán.

The cow also won the Best Protein award, and was the Best Exhibitor Bred cow.

Minister Humphreys said: “The Baileys Champion Cow competition has been running for over 40 years and it is definitely the one to win for dairy breeders.

“We have seen the crème de la crème of our dairy cows on show here in Virginia today.

“I want to congratulate all of the competitors and it’s a great honour for me as Minister for Rural and Community Development to present the award in this prestigious competition, which showcases the incredible strength of our dairy sector in Ireland.”

The Diageo Baileys Cow highlights and rewards dairy breeding excellence. Strength, body conformation and proven excellence in quality milk production are base-line criteria upon which a winner is selected.

The judge, Markus Hock from Germany praised the winning cow, saying: “Not so often do you find a cow as old as she, winning a competition like this.

“She was the best cow – just beautiful, and fantastic for her age.”

The Show, which attracted many visitors from Fermanagh, has retained its traditional country outlook.

There were sections for horses and livestock, as well as poultry and a major Home Industries section.

In the vegetables and farm produce section, Malcolm Glenn from Lisbellaw won numerous first, second and third prizes for his displays.

The show also hosted the All-Ireland Onion Championship, which was won for a second year by grower, Sean Egan from Kerry.

Unfortunately, wet weather spread from late morning through to the afternoon, spoiling the viewing for some of those attending.