Mountain pastures occupy over a quarter of the half million acres in Co Wicklow. The slopes which form the pastures extend from the lowlands of the northeast where the Sugar Loaf rises, to where the southwestern slopes of Lugnaquilla and Keadeen merge into the plains of Carlow and borders of Wexford and west to Hollywood and the Kildare borders.

The Wicklow mountains have been renowned from the earliest times for the native sheep, which are of a distinct type and have been indigenous to these mountains for centuries.

The mountainous environment, combined with skilful breeding, have helped the Wicklow Mountain sheep breed evolve.

The breed possesses a number of valuable characteristics such as extreme hardiness, and the ewes, as well as being prolific, are particularly good nurses.

The Society holds annual sales of purebred registered rams in Blessington, Co Wicklow, and Stranorlar, Co Donegal, in Ireland, where hundreds of rams are exhibited and sold.

This year marks the 75th annual show and sale of the breed, which will be held at Blessington mart this coming Saturday 7 October.

Over the past 75 years, over 150 members have shown and sold rams at this show and sale.

David Corrigan has completed three championship wins in a row over the last three years. He will be out in force to try and make it four, but with 250 sheep forward for Saturday it might be easier said than done.

Ballymote mart in October has become the place for many to buy top-quality replacement stock. The Western Simmental Club is holding its annual commercial heifer sale in Ballymote this Saturday 7 October, with entries peaking at 220 lots. All heifers are pre-inspected, catalogued, and export-tested with export on the day. This sale is said to be one of the longest-running successful commercial breeding sales in the country, this year celebrating 21 years. The sale’s success has been driven by repeat buyers and a club committed to meeting the challenges suckler farming presents year on year. Such is the demand, last year saw a record-breaking sale when the year old commercial heifer exhibited by Declan Oates sold for €6,750.

Any enquires to chairperson Teresa McGeever or secretary Padraig Gallagher.