Balmoral 2024: Crowds turn out in force to enjoy the sunshine and attractions on the final day of the 155th Balmoral Show

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The Balmoral Show was crammed with visitors today, the last of the four-day event that seems set to shape up as one of the busiest ever.

From mid morning there were long queues of cars backed up into the A1 road near Sprucefield and all the other approach roads to the Maze site.

It was mild and cloudy all morning but the sun burned through it as forecast and by mid afternoon it was almost perfect conditions for the agricultural, food, livestock and equestrian event.

Crowds of all ages wandered from food tents to clothes retailers to garden stores and exhibitions and sporting and cattle competitions.

It has been good weather all week as politicians, Royal Ulster Agricultural Society and business figures mingled with showgoers in a 2024 Balmoral that has marked the total emergence from the lingering impact of the covid restriction years .

The 155th annual four-day-show had some 4,000 head of livestock this year, with well over 500 trade stands on the 55-acre site, the Eikon Centre outside Lisburn.

Organisers speculated the large crowds were drawn to the show because it was preceded by several weeks of very good weather.

"The weather has been much, much better than expected and the crowds are coming in by their thousands here again,” said Rhonda GraGeary, Group Operations Director at the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society

Today, Saturday, was the grand finale for the four-day show, where the champion animals from all the various sections - cattle, sheep and pigs - come together to parade in front of the public.