New agricultural show management software supported by Monaghan LEADER

 
New agricultural show management software supported by Monaghan LEADER

The Irish Shows Association (ISA) is delighted to announce the launch of its ISA SuperShow Platform, an integrated show management IT system, which will be available to its members throughout Ireland. During the enforced break in ISA’s regular activities due to COVID-19, the association was able to focus on bringing this innovative digitalisation project to fruition.

In recent years, shows have found it increasingly difficult to attract people to administrative positions due to the significant time and paperwork involved. Recognising the need to future-proof their shows, the ISA set about seeking funding to develop a cloud-based show management system to reduce the administrative burden on the agricultural show volunteers.
Following investment in market research and a feasibility study, the ISA went to tender and awarded the contract to Irish software development and integration company, Dotser. The ISA is delighted to partner with an indigenous Irish company to provide this exciting ICT solution to member shows. This new system will allow organisers/entrants/participants to log information, such as animal details, only once and use this same data for their next show.

The project is part-funded under the LEADER national cooperation programme, which is supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Department of Agriculture as part of Project Ireland 2040.

The project is being led out by Monaghan Integrated Development CLG in partnership with Avondhu Blackwater Partnership CLG, Galway Rural Development CLG and Southwest Mayo Development Company CLG.

Gabriel O'Connell, CEO of Monaghan Integrated Development and Lead project Partner says: “It has been a great pleasure to work with the Board of the Irish Shows Association and being able to support this worthwhile project under the LEADER National Cooperation Measure. He noted that Monaghan LEADER Local Action Group was on board from the start, cooperation funding meant we could pool together resources from the 4 counties involved and provide the support needed to develop this innovative shows management system which will make sure local agricultural shows in Ireland continue in the community well into the future."

45 ISA member shows will be live on the new system for the coming showing season and exhibitors are encouraged to avail of this very useful service. A list of all participating shows will be published on the Irish Shows Association website, www.irishshows.org.

The roll-out of the project has commenced with training actively underway including a session held at the ISA AGM recently, where Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys commended the ISA for "the great work being done in digitising and future proofing the shows".