What it takes to be the best when you enter the world of rosette winners

With 140 agricultural shows across the island of Ireland, this scene is hugely popular with competitors and spectators.

Every year thousands of people spend months of preparation before travelling the country to take part in the competitions every weekend.

However, for the first time in history, all country shows have been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

They have lost their weekly get-together to hail the best of the best.

Although the show will not ‘go on’, the show-people – the winners, the losers, the bakers, the potters, the craftspeople, the florists and the artists – continue their obsessions.

Beidh Aonach Amárach, the TV series that brings viewers the best of the country agricultural shows and fairs and meets the people who take part across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is back – with a difference.

The new six-part series, made for BBC Gaeilge and TG4 by Strident Media with support from Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund, starts on Monday, February 8, on BBC Two Northern Ireland at 10pm.

Throughout 2020 the series has been capturing the stories of the people of all ages and backgrounds who would normally vie for the top spots in an amazing range of competitions.

While the shows have been cancelled, that doesn’t stop this remarkable range of people, who would usually be preparing to take part, from honing their skills and aiming to be the best at what they do.

From cattle to cakes, sheep-shearing to basket weaving, show-jumping to new technology – and not forgetting the best vegetables, dog agility, art and craft – the series provides an insight into these dedicated and multi-talented show-people and their passions.

Travelling to some of the most beautiful parts of the island of Ireland, there’s plenty of breath-taking scenery on the way from Donegal to Mayo and from Wexford to County Down.

Viewers discover what it takes to be the best as we enter the world of the rosette winners with their stories, traditions and trade secrets.

n The new six-part series, Beidh Aonach Amárach, returns on Monday, February 8, on BBC Two Northern Ireland at 10pm.