The pair recently held a Skillnets Wool Shearing training day in Naas, Co Kildare. Tom says it's not just beginners courses that attract demand: junior shearers and advanced shearers are also keen to sharpen their skills.

Shearing courses focus on teaching shearers correct techniques and, in some cases, helping them lose bad habits they may have already picked up. Health and safety and techniques which avoid excessive strain on shearers are also high on the agenda.

This year’s shearing season has got off to a slow start, but Tom says there was much less shearing carried this time last year as weather conditions were unsuitable for most of May.

He advises farmers not to panic about shearing in current conditions, especially where ewes are suckling young lambs. In many cases, sheep are just about fit to be shorn with a fine spell required to make shearing easier for man and beast.

The All-Ireland and International Sheep Shearing Championships take place on Saturday and Sunday in An Grianan Estate, Burt, Co Donegal. The event is being sponsored by the Lynch Brothers.

Tom looking forward to teaming up with Donegal man and current All-Ireland record holder Ivan Scott and Louth native Mark McGeown to represent Ireland in the Six Nations Shearing Championships.

Photos by Ramona Farrelly