The sun was out, the cattle were washed, and all roads led to the Tullamore Show on Sunday 10 August as thousands of people from across the country came to view cattle, machinery, and much more.
Among the crowds were several young farming enthusiasts, many of whom had an early start preparing their pedigree and commercial animals for showing.
Irish Country Living spoke to several young people about their interest in livestock, when they started showing cattle and what their favourite aspect of the Tullamore Show.
Tess Larkin, Co Galway
“I’ve been showing cattle for nearly ten years. I am 18 and have just finished my Leaving Certificate and I am waiting for my results. I am hoping to get nursing in Galway in the CAO over the next couple of weeks. My favourite part about showing cattle is days like today, coming out and having the craic with all the lads, we get along great.
“We attended four shows this year, and they are tough going. I was up at 2am this morning. I won the senior handler with Tiger Lilly; she was born in January.
“I was fair nervous going into the ring. We bring them out for walks around the yard to get them used to it. My favourite part of the show is dressing up fancy in the country clothes.”
Tess Larkin, Loughrea, Co Galway with her trophy after she won the Senior Young Handler title at the Tullamore Show. \ Donal O' Leary
Luke Neenan, Co Galway
“It felt great to win the trophy for Junior Young Handler. It’s my first time winning at this show, but I have won before in other shows. There was a lot of pressure in the ring because my heifer wasn’t behaving; she was being very stubborn and wouldn’t move. She just put her head down. I calmed her by putting my stick on her mouth.
“To get ready, we brought the animals inside on Friday, gave them hay and water. On Saturday, we brought them to Tullamore for the overnight accommodation. We washed them with cattle shampoo, dried them with the blow-dryer, and this morning we brought them down to our area, and gelled them up.
“I was very nervous because I wasn’t expecting to be placed. I am going to get my name on the trophy and put it in my room.
Luke Neenan, Loughrea, Co Galway with his trophy after he won the Junior Young Handler title at Tullamore show. \ Donal O' Leary
Alice Fitzsimons, Co Cavan
“We came down this morning, it took about an hour and 40 minutes to get here, so I was up at 3am. We washed and dried them yesterday and blew them out before we left this morning. We soaked them up and sprayed them this morning. I have been showing cattle for three years, and I am now 14.
“My neighbours did a bit of showing, and I bought my heifer, and I said I would take her out to the shows, and that’s how it started. I got the family into it, and my brother is now showing, too. I would like to do something with agriculture when I am older and maybe work with some of the AI companies. I brought my Belgium Blue Limousin cross with me today, which was born in March. We keep them down in my grandad’s yard, which he passed on to us. The most important thing to remember when you’re in the ring is to always look at the judge and smile. This is the fourth show I’ve been to this year, the animals are very young, so it’s just about getting them out.”
Alice Fitzsimons, Mullahoran, Co Cavan pictured at the Tullamore Show. \ Donal O' Leary
Caitlin Creed, Co Cork
“We have had three classes so far and I am having a bit of a break now, the show days are always busy. We brought a mixture of breeds today, we have some Blonde, Limousins and Belgium Blues. I have been showing cattle since I was nine, and I am now 14.
“The Tullamore Show is closer to my nana’s house, so we get to stay up there for the night. I have loads of friends here, and I also like that it’s a big show. We had the young handlers’ classes earlier, and I didn’t place in that, but I came second in the Best Butcher’s Heifers class. My favourite thing about showing cattle is everyone around the preparation areas and my friends. I live on a beef and sheep farm at home, and I love the cows and feeding the baby calves. I want to have some horses and cows when I am older, and I think there are a good few opportunities for young people in Cork anyway.”
Caitlin Creed, Inchegeela, Co Cork pictured at Tullamore show. \ Donal O' Leary
More young farmers of the future from Tullamore Show
Fionn Heslin, Ballymacugh, Co Cavan pictured at the Tullamore Show. \ Donal O' Leary
Fiadh Martin, Cadain Groome and Arlen Martin, Mullingar pictured at Tullamore show. \ Donal O' Leary
Odhran and Aoibhín McCormack, Slieverue, Co Kilkenny pictured at the Tullamore Show. \ Donal O' Leary
Anna and Claire Coyne, Killbeggan, Co Westmeath pictured at Tullamore show. \ Donal O' Leary
Dave Hennessy, Cashel, Co Tipperary pictured at Tullamore show. \ Donal O' Leary
The sun was out, the cattle were washed, and all roads led to the Tullamore Show on Sunday 10 August as thousands of people from across the country came to view cattle, machinery, and much more.
Among the crowds were several young farming enthusiasts, many of whom had an early start preparing their pedigree and commercial animals for showing.
Irish Country Living spoke to several young people about their interest in livestock, when they started showing cattle and what their favourite aspect of the Tullamore Show.
Tess Larkin, Co Galway
“I’ve been showing cattle for nearly ten years. I am 18 and have just finished my Leaving Certificate and I am waiting for my results. I am hoping to get nursing in Galway in the CAO over the next couple of weeks. My favourite part about showing cattle is days like today, coming out and having the craic with all the lads, we get along great.
“We attended four shows this year, and they are tough going. I was up at 2am this morning. I won the senior handler with Tiger Lilly; she was born in January.
“I was fair nervous going into the ring. We bring them out for walks around the yard to get them used to it. My favourite part of the show is dressing up fancy in the country clothes.”
Tess Larkin, Loughrea, Co Galway with her trophy after she won the Senior Young Handler title at the Tullamore Show. \ Donal O' Leary
Luke Neenan, Co Galway
“It felt great to win the trophy for Junior Young Handler. It’s my first time winning at this show, but I have won before in other shows. There was a lot of pressure in the ring because my heifer wasn’t behaving; she was being very stubborn and wouldn’t move. She just put her head down. I calmed her by putting my stick on her mouth.
“To get ready, we brought the animals inside on Friday, gave them hay and water. On Saturday, we brought them to Tullamore for the overnight accommodation. We washed them with cattle shampoo, dried them with the blow-dryer, and this morning we brought them down to our area, and gelled them up.
“I was very nervous because I wasn’t expecting to be placed. I am going to get my name on the trophy and put it in my room.
Luke Neenan, Loughrea, Co Galway with his trophy after he won the Junior Young Handler title at Tullamore show. \ Donal O' Leary
Alice Fitzsimons, Co Cavan
“We came down this morning, it took about an hour and 40 minutes to get here, so I was up at 3am. We washed and dried them yesterday and blew them out before we left this morning. We soaked them up and sprayed them this morning. I have been showing cattle for three years, and I am now 14.
“My neighbours did a bit of showing, and I bought my heifer, and I said I would take her out to the shows, and that’s how it started. I got the family into it, and my brother is now showing, too. I would like to do something with agriculture when I am older and maybe work with some of the AI companies. I brought my Belgium Blue Limousin cross with me today, which was born in March. We keep them down in my grandad’s yard, which he passed on to us. The most important thing to remember when you’re in the ring is to always look at the judge and smile. This is the fourth show I’ve been to this year, the animals are very young, so it’s just about getting them out.”
Alice Fitzsimons, Mullahoran, Co Cavan pictured at the Tullamore Show. \ Donal O' Leary
Caitlin Creed, Co Cork
“We have had three classes so far and I am having a bit of a break now, the show days are always busy. We brought a mixture of breeds today, we have some Blonde, Limousins and Belgium Blues. I have been showing cattle since I was nine, and I am now 14.
“The Tullamore Show is closer to my nana’s house, so we get to stay up there for the night. I have loads of friends here, and I also like that it’s a big show. We had the young handlers’ classes earlier, and I didn’t place in that, but I came second in the Best Butcher’s Heifers class. My favourite thing about showing cattle is everyone around the preparation areas and my friends. I live on a beef and sheep farm at home, and I love the cows and feeding the baby calves. I want to have some horses and cows when I am older, and I think there are a good few opportunities for young people in Cork anyway.”
Caitlin Creed, Inchegeela, Co Cork pictured at Tullamore show. \ Donal O' Leary
More young farmers of the future from Tullamore Show
Fionn Heslin, Ballymacugh, Co Cavan pictured at the Tullamore Show. \ Donal O' Leary
Fiadh Martin, Cadain Groome and Arlen Martin, Mullingar pictured at Tullamore show. \ Donal O' Leary
Odhran and Aoibhín McCormack, Slieverue, Co Kilkenny pictured at the Tullamore Show. \ Donal O' Leary
Anna and Claire Coyne, Killbeggan, Co Westmeath pictured at Tullamore show. \ Donal O' Leary
Dave Hennessy, Cashel, Co Tipperary pictured at Tullamore show. \ Donal O' Leary
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