More than 40,000 visitors are expected to attend Ireland's largest livestock show in Tullamore, Co Offaly, on Sunday. The event has replaced the Spring Show, which was held in May in the RDS, Dublin, until the mid-1990s.
The National Livestock Show in Tullamore now attracts top sheep and cattle breeders, who compete for a prize fund of €145,000.
Revived in 1991, the show has retained its roots as it also incorporates the old County Show.
This year's event will feature a food hall and crafts hall, and the one-day show will cost €500,000 to stage on the 150-acre site at Charleville Estate outside the town. There will be competitions for exhibitors and breeders, with 40 national livestock show titles to compete for on the day.
There are 45 classes in the dairy section of the show, and there will be 135 classes for more than 10 Continental breeds of pedigree cattle.
There will also be commercial classes for sheep covering all the major breeds.
A large number of showing and jumping classes for the increasing number of horses being exhibited at the event will also be held.
There will also be dog, poultry and horticulture displays, and a special exhibit for inventors of labour-saving devices on Irish farms.
The show will be officially declared open by Minister for Finance Brian Cowen.