Community Step Back

Inishowen Co-Op Invites Community to Step Back to 1963: Celebrate Inishowen's Heritage and Win!

Inishowen Co-Op is looking forward to welcoming visitors to its Community Support Tent at this year's Clonmany Agricultural Show, where a wide range of local organisations, activities and community initiatives will come together to create a welcoming space for all ages.

Building on the success of the recent Inishowen Agricultural Show, where the Community Support Tent received an overwhelmingly positive response from visitors, Inishowen Co-Op is once again partnering with iCARE to provide a dedicated sensory space designed to support individuals and families who may benefit from a quieter environment during the busy show day.

The sensory space, managed by the iCARE team and supported by Inishowen Co-Op, aims to ensure that more people can enjoy everything the show has to offer in a comfortable and inclusive setting.

"We were delighted by the feedback we received at the Inishowen Agricultural Show," said a spokesperson for Inishowen Co-Op. "Agricultural shows are all about community, and we want to make sure everyone feels welcome. The sensory space has become an important part of that commitment."

Visitors to the Inishowen Co-Op stand can enjoy tea, coffee and refreshments throughout the day, with all donations going directly to support Inishowen Hospice.

The stand will also feature representatives from a number of organisations and businesses, offering information, advice and a chance to connect with the local community.

Members of the Inishowen Co-Op team will be on hand throughout the day to chat about farming,  DIY projects, home improvement and a wide range of products and services available through the co-op's branches. The Inishowen Buncrana Co-Op Garden Centre team will be there also to answer your gardening queries, while representatives from Carn Vet will be present to answer questions relating to pets and animal care.

One of the highlights of this year's display will be a very special piece of local history.

Parked outside the tent will be the original Inishowen Farmers Co-Op lorry, dating back to 1963. The beautifully restored Bedford S-Type lorry once transported milk from farms across Inishowen to the creamery and represents an important chapter in the history of agriculture and co-operation in the peninsula.

The vintage lorry will provide the perfect backdrop for photographs, and Inishowen Co-Op is inviting visitors to share their own memories from 1963.

The co-op is launching a special community storytelling competition asking people:

"Where were you in 1963?"

Perhaps you were born that year, got married, started farming, began a new job, moved home, or have a family story connected to that time.

Visitors are invited to submit their memories and stories on the day, with prizes of Inishowen Co-Op vouchers awarded for the three stories judged to best capture life in Inishowen during 1963.

"We know there are fantastic stories throughout our communities and this lorry is a wonderful reminder of how much life in Inishowen has changed over the past six decades," said the spokesperson. "We would love people to call over, get a photograph beside the lorry and share a little piece of their own history with us."

The Inishowen Co-Op Community Support Tent promises something for everyone, whether visitors want to enjoy a cup of tea, learn more about local organisations, seek expert advice, explore gardening and farming ideas, or simply take a trip down memory lane beside one of the co-op's most treasured historic vehicles.

Everyone is welcome to call in and experience a celebration of community, heritage and the enduring spirit of co-operation that continues to play such an important role across Inishowen.

Send your story in advance to orders@inishowencoop.com  by July 31st

Clonmany Agricultural Show takes place on Tuesday 4th and Wednesday 5th August, bringing together farming, rural life, local businesses, community organisations and families from across Inishowen and beyond.

Inishowen Co-Op is proud to be part of this long-standing community event and looks forward to welcoming visitors of all ages to its Community Support Tent throughout the show. 

Whether you're interested in farming, gardening, local history, animal care, community initiatives or simply enjoying a cup of tea and a chat, be sure to call by and experience everything the stand has to offer. For more information, visit www.inishowencoop.com.