The Royal Ulster Agriculture Society, the organisers behind the Balmoral Show, were “disappointed” to announce that there will be no poultry classes at this year’s event, which takes place from May 14 – 17.
The announcement was published in an official statement on February 21, on the back of the recent avian influenza outbreak in the UK, which has resulted in widespread mandatory housing orders and the implementation of surveillance and protection zones around impacted premises.
The statement read: “This decision has been taken due to the uncertainty of when any ban on bird gatherings may be lifted.
“Show organisers plan to host a small display of birds from the same flock during the four days of the show alongside the popular egg and decorated egg classes.”
Balmoral Show
For the last 150 years, the Balmoral Show has taken place every May at the Eikon Exhibition Centre in Balmoral Park, Lisburn, which is situated just outside of Belfast.
With over 3,000 head of livestock, 500 trade stands, and hundreds of competitions to be hosted, the event has become a highlight in Northern Ireland’s agricultural calendar.
The decision to ban poultry exhibitions at the 2025 show, came just before the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) confirmed the cull of some 16,000 birds at a commercial poultry premises near Pomeroy, Co. Tyrone, yesterday (Sunday), February 24.
The decision was made after initial positive testing results confirmed the detection of avian influenza H5N1 (commonly known as bird flu) among the flock.
This follows an additional outbreak of the disease at a commercial poultry premises near Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, last week, resulting in the ordered deaths of over 64,000 kept birds on site, to prevent further proliferation of the disease.
According to DAERA, avian influenza is a notifiable disease, meaning, that anyone who suspects an animal may be affected by the disease, must, by law, report it to their local DAERA direct office.
