South East Clare Show

The 27th annual South East Clare show is scheduled for Sunday, 23 July at Bridgetown Show grounds Co Clare. Clareview Car Sales are the main sponsor and this year’s show has a total prize fund of €20,000. With more than 2,500 equestrian, cattle and horticultural entries expected, the 2017 show will draw thousands of people to watch feature classes such as the three-year-old lunging .This competition offers the chance to earn a space at Cavan Equestrian Centre Elite Sales later this year and the opportunity to win a space at the well known final at Millstreet.

Additional information on schedules and entry forms can be found online at southeastclareshow.com

Rare and traditional breed show

The inaugural Mount Briscoe Rare and Traditional Breeds Show will take place on Sunday, 30 July. The event aims to showcase and promote Ireland’s native and traditional breeds in cattle, horses, sheep, pigs etc. and to raise awareness about endangered heritage breeds of livestock. Many traditional livestock breeds have been replaced with more ‘improved’ breeds in modern animal agriculture, at the expense of a massive loss in genetic diversity. Worldwide, about one domesticated livestock breed every month is lost to extinction. The Irish Draught horse, Connemara pony and Kerry Bog Pony currently range from endangered to ‘minority’ on the Department of Agriculture’s Watchlist. This event is an opportunity for breeders, farmers, fans, and sponsors to advocate for conservation of heritage breeds in agriculture. The show schedule is available to download online at mountbriscoe.ie, online entries close Wednesday, 26 July. Tel:087 2507827

Clarecastle hosts breeding festival

What could be called an All-Ireland Sport Horse Breeders Festival will run for the second year at Clarecastle, County Clare on Sunday week, 30 July.

It will feature the All-Ireland Colt Foal Championship sponsored by Municipal Authority of Ennis with €2,500 on offer. Prior to that there will be €2,000 in prizes for the Brood Mare Championship. There is also a young handler competition along with the usual young horse classes and championship.