Billy Gubbins, Kilfinane, Co Limerick
“We are going about the house here and we don’t know what to do with no shows to go to this summer. Our season would have started on the May bank holiday weekend and went right through to the fatstock show in Carrick on Shannon in November. We have averaged 30 shows a year for the last few years and I’m showing nationwide since 1981, so almost 40 years on the road. The only way I can explain it, it’s like a drug. It’s also our hobby here and we love it. There’s a huge amount of friendly rivalry, good fun and general good times all summer. It’s a great feeling to win after getting beat a few times. Like everybody else this year, we had the feeling we had a really good team of animals to go on the road with but it wasn’t to be.”
William Smith, Oldcastle, Co Meath.
William Smith, Millbrook Limousins, Oldcastle, Co Meath
“This has been a big week for us for the last few years, in that we would be up in Balmoral with stock this week. We’ve been thinking about Balmoral since December really and our two heifers were ready for the big stage but it wasn’t to be. Winning in Balmoral is special because a winner up there puts your herd up there with the best right across the British Isles. Shows are part of our life and I’m showing cattle since I was able to walk. It’s a kind of a drug and it’s hard to explain the camaraderie and the friendly rivalry that exists between exhibitors all summer. It was also a shop window for Millbrook Limousins. All we can do is hope that everything will be back to normal for autumn bull sales at this stage.”
Tommy Staunton.
Tommy Staunton, Caramba Shorthorns, Kinvara, Co Galway
“Balmoral was the big one for us. You plan it six months in advance so it’s a massive blow not to be able to exhibit there this year. It’s always full of potential purchasers from the UK who are eager to see what’s coming out for the show season ahead. Calves come out and people follow them for the year. It was also a great social occasion as are all shows. Tullamore was our other highlight, meeting breeders and competing at the top. It’s a massive buzz and it’s going to be a massive void in our life for the summer but I guess once we have the cattle, 2021 isn’t that far away.”
Billy Gubbins, Kilfinane, Co Limerick
“We are going about the house here and we don’t know what to do with no shows to go to this summer. Our season would have started on the May bank holiday weekend and went right through to the fatstock show in Carrick on Shannon in November. We have averaged 30 shows a year for the last few years and I’m showing nationwide since 1981, so almost 40 years on the road. The only way I can explain it, it’s like a drug. It’s also our hobby here and we love it. There’s a huge amount of friendly rivalry, good fun and general good times all summer. It’s a great feeling to win after getting beat a few times. Like everybody else this year, we had the feeling we had a really good team of animals to go on the road with but it wasn’t to be.”
William Smith, Oldcastle, Co Meath.
William Smith, Millbrook Limousins, Oldcastle, Co Meath
“This has been a big week for us for the last few years, in that we would be up in Balmoral with stock this week. We’ve been thinking about Balmoral since December really and our two heifers were ready for the big stage but it wasn’t to be. Winning in Balmoral is special because a winner up there puts your herd up there with the best right across the British Isles. Shows are part of our life and I’m showing cattle since I was able to walk. It’s a kind of a drug and it’s hard to explain the camaraderie and the friendly rivalry that exists between exhibitors all summer. It was also a shop window for Millbrook Limousins. All we can do is hope that everything will be back to normal for autumn bull sales at this stage.”
Tommy Staunton.
Tommy Staunton, Caramba Shorthorns, Kinvara, Co Galway
“Balmoral was the big one for us. You plan it six months in advance so it’s a massive blow not to be able to exhibit there this year. It’s always full of potential purchasers from the UK who are eager to see what’s coming out for the show season ahead. Calves come out and people follow them for the year. It was also a great social occasion as are all shows. Tullamore was our other highlight, meeting breeders and competing at the top. It’s a massive buzz and it’s going to be a massive void in our life for the summer but I guess once we have the cattle, 2021 isn’t that far away.”
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