Tullamore Show provided a focal point for Irish sheep enthusiasts on Sunday 9 August, with exhibitors travelling the length and breadth of Ireland to compete in a very well-attended sheep section.

Classes were heavily entered, with an excellent standard of sheep being showcased across every breed. Overcast conditions did little to deter spectators, with spaces ringside in high demand.

Donegal's Declan Robinson, tasked with judging the Beltex section, was the first to make a start to the day’s competitions. The breed was very well-represented, with a high standard of sheep throughout all six classes. Jack and Sean O’Brien from Culdaff, Co Donegal, lifted the Dudley Maher Memorial Cup in pole position, whilst Thomas Clarke from Co Mayo stood in reserve.

Lanark sheep

The National South of Ireland Lanark Sheep Breeders show was held in ring seven, with Sanny Blackwood from the highly respected Greenside flock, Scotland, undertaking judging duties.

His long journey was made worthwhile with very large classes boasting an excellent standard, with a crammed ringside watching on.

The Glackmore flock stood out on top, with Brian and Christopher Curran’s aged ewe taking top honours. Their champion two-crop ewe is sired by the 28,000gns Glenbeg, and her dam goes back to 22,000gns Dalchirla.

Fellow Donegal men Liam, Keiran and Jack Donaghey took reserve champion with their ram lamb, who is sired by 34,000gns Craigdoo, with a Loughash dam they purchased for 10,000gns in 2021.

Celebrating 50 years of texels being bred in Ireland, The Texel Sheep society had an outstanding exhibition of sheep.

The Kelly family from Co Kildare had plenty to celebrate on the day, receiving red ribbons in the texel ram, aged ewe, shearling ewe and eventually champion and reserve champion of the section.

A daughter of Connemara Hennessy was judge John Redmond of the Knockhill flock, Co Carlow’s pick, awarding the Kelly’s shearling ewe overall Texel champion.

Reserve champion went to the Kelly's ewe lamb, who shared her success with her father, who won the earlier Texel Ram class.

John Lynch from the Ballinascraw Flock, Co Longford, was tasked with judging a well-attended Vendeen section, with Conor and Cheryl O’Brien’s hogget ewe being crowned overall champion of the breed.

The O’Briens from Springvale, Co Cork, had double cause for celebration as they also received the reserve champion prize with their ewe lamb.

Top accolade

Robbie Jackson from the Keadeen Flock took on the task of judging the Charollais sheep. Andrew Gilmore from Co Cavan’s Redrock Flock secured the top accolade, with his ram named the overall champion. David Condon from Co Kilkenny stood reserve champion with his ram lamb.

The Belclare breed was well-represented with six very strong classes. Michael O’Neill was entrusted with the judging role and crowned Barry Cunningham’s ram lamb champion of the section, while the senior ewe from Tim Keady, Co Galway, stood reserve champion.

Rodger Wells from the Rowelen Flock in Wales made the long journey to Tullamore to judge the Welsh Llyen section. His efforts were well-rewarded, with 54 entries forward. Karl Gill from Co Offaly came out on top, with his shearling ewe standing overall champion. David Oliver from Co Louth was awarded reserve champion with his shearling ram.

Three in a row

Saturday marked three in a row for the Lawnview flock, whose connections were delighted to win overall champion of the Zwartble section for the third consecutive year. Robbie Kilduff’s shearling ewe was this year’s champion, with Eilis von Cramon taking reserve champion with her senior ram.

It was after lunchtime when the Suffolk sheep section took to the ring, but crowds and exhibitors were not deterred by the later start.

The wait was made worthwhile for Arthur and Patrick O’Keefe, who had a memorable day out with their ewe lamb being crowned champion of the breed and their shearling ewe taking reserve champion.

The Bluefaced Leicester Section drew crowds with a bumper entry of 93 sheep forward for judging by Graham Loughrey from the well-known Temain Flock in Co Derry.

It was a vintage day for Rachel and Michael Staunton from Market Hill, Co Tipperary, as they received champion's honours with their ewe lamb and reserve champion with their shearling ewe.

Joanna McNulty’s aged ram was judge John Blaney’s top pick of the Swaledale section. David Coyne from Co Tipperary stood reserve with his hogget ewe.

The Jacob section was the penultimate breed to crown its champion on the day.

Judge Adrian Hamilton of the Beltrim Flock, Co Tyrone, awarded the Harney family’s ewe from the Greenstar Flock the top prize. Matthew Kehoe from Co Wexford stood reserve champion, also with his ewe.

Valais Blacknose enthusiasts' spirits were not dampened by the late finish, when Geoffrey Gray took on the task of judging a strong section. Niamh Fortune had an excellent day in the ring, receiving both champion with her ram lamb and reserve with her ewe lamb.