All the fun of the fair!

Throughout the spring and summer months, Euroshow Fun fair is an integral part of many of Ireland's best known festivals.

It provides a colourful fun spectacle at the heart of some of Ireland's popular and most diverse events.

Events include Killarney, Dun Laoighre, Carrick, Dundalk, Bray, Castlebar and more

HIstory of EuroShow

William Bird Snr. the man responsible for the phenomenon that has become Euroshow Fun Fair and Funderland was born in 1908 in Cork city to a well known local bookmaker, Billy Bird.

He had his first taste of showbuisness as a child and at the age of 12 claimed to be earning more than his father. He started out spinning the Roulette wheel at the old casino in Crosshaven Co. Cork and showed the shrewdness he would become famous for by refusing a set wage opting instead for the commission system.

Encouraged by his wife Stella (nee McDonald), he decided to start his own "show" (the generic term for a Fun Fair) back in the late 1930's. Stella had a background in entertainment, her father George owned Caledonian amusements which were famous throughout Ireland in the 20's and 30's.

So with a £75 set of "chair-o-planes" bought on credit they took their first booking at the G.A.A. carnival in Glounthaune Co. Cork and it turned out to be a memorable week. Stunt man Stan Lindbergh was the star of the show diving into 6 feet of water from a height of 70 feet with his petrol soaked uniform ablaze.

The real crowd puller proved to be one of Billy Birds gimmicks. The Barry brothers, prominent hurlers in Cork at the time succeeded in getting a substantial amount of tea , which was strictly rationed in those years. It was decided to raffle the tea in 1/4 pound packets and multitudes descended on the Fun Fair from all over Cork county. It was innovations like this which set Billy Bird apart and many stories exist regarding his prowess in this area.