The Royal Highland Show has become the new social outing of the year for the pedigree classes of Irish stockmen and women.

The four-day event is one of the largest annual gatherings of Scottish farmers and is fast becoming the go-to event for Irish farmers also. The Dealer bumped into the Kiernan Milling sales team among numerous other Irish companies exhibiting at the event. Hordes of Irish cattle and sheep enthusiasts thronged the ringside watching judging each day.

“The plane journey over was like getting a bus to Balla Mart on a Saturday,” one visitor said.

There was even an Irish judge deliberating in the ring – Des Dunne from Castlemartin, Co Kildare, was tasked with judging the Belted Galloways at the show.