Rare breeds, vote-seeking politicians and best-in-their-class pedigree livestock were among the top attractions on the first day of the North’s biggest agricultural show.
More than 90,000 people are expected to attend the 148th Balmoral Show, which takes place on the site of the former Maze prison just outside Lisburn in Co Antrim this week.
The three-day show, which runs until Friday, is an annual highlight for generations of farming families in the North.
According to the organisers, the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society, it is also now attracting significant numbers of visitors from the Republic.
Featuring 90 food and drink companies and the cream of the North’s artisan producers, who set up in the NI Food Pavilion, there will be plenty of local flavour for visitors from near and far to enjoy.
The society’s chief executive, Colin McDonald, said the show was an important showcase for the North’s food and drink industry, which employs 100,000 people.
