Eleven-year-old Chloe Hegarty from Bandon, Co Cork has been a rising star on the cattle showing circuit ever since her debut in the show ring at just three-years old.

Chloe is a fifth-class student in Crossman Primary School and a third-generation farmer, following in her father Dave and grandfather John Joe’s footsteps.

Chloe loves life in the country, where cattle, horses, shows and soccer all form part of this little superstar’s daily life.

ADVERTISEMENT

On the home farm, which is located in Curravreeda, just a few short miles from Bandon, Chloe and her father Dave and mother Iris are farming Charolais, Belgian Blue, and Limousin pedigree and commercial cattle alongside their dairy herd enterprise.

Chloe explained her duties on the farm to the IFJ Junior, which include but are not limited to: “Feeding the calves, helping Dad feed the cattle, fencing and helping with the milking cows.”

Chloe Hegarty with her 10-week-old commercial twin-calf Smokey at home at Currevreeda, Bandon, Co Cork. \ Donal O' Leary

She added: “I love playing with all the calves and training up the show calves.”

Interests

Chloe’s list of hobbies stretches far and wide – playing soccer with her local soccer club in Bandon, playing camogie and football at school, horse-riding and showing cattle.

With such an array of interests, we thought it might be difficult for Chloe to choose her favourite or to decide what her favourite past-time might be, but her answer was clear and precise – “showing!”

Shows

Although it’s over an hour’s drive every show morning just to get out of Cork, there is nothing that will stand in Chloe’s way of getting to a show.

Travelling with her mum and dad and her cousin Kevin, she has been parading around show rings with commercial calves since she was three years old (yes, really!).

Young Chloe Hegarty, Bandon, Co Cork shows her calf Chloe in the Belgian Blue Calf class at Tullamore Show. \ Donal O' Leary

Early in the springtime, Chloe picks names for the calves – with some input from Mum and Dad – and then helps her dad pick out the show team for the summer show season.

“On the morning of a show, we get up really early to bring the calves into the shed and put their halters on, so we can put them in the trailer to get to a show.

“At the show, we have to wash and dry them and start doing them up (grooming) before we get to walk them in the ring, and I just love the whole process really,” Chloe commented.

Chloe Hegarty with her parents Iris and David at home at Currevreeda, Bandon, Co Cork. \ Donal O' Leary

Since her first time in the show ring at Bantry Show eight years ago, Chloe has picked up many prizes, but she has also learned some excellent life lessons from this.

“I love meeting new friends at the shows from all over Ireland really. I like the competition and having fun. I’m a tiny bit competitive [Chloe laughed], but I don’t mind being beaten sometimes, because that’s what makes it fun.”

Achievements

While catching up with Chloe, we had to ask what some of her favourite standout moments or wins from the shows were – to which young Chloe stated, “there have been so many good days that I can’t really remember my favourite.

"I was really delighted when I won the Sophie Pearson Memorial Young Handlers prize in Rathdowney in 2018, and when I won fifth place in the All Ireland Young Handlers competition at the Trim Show last year, where I was showing our stubborn Limousin calf called James that wouldn’t walk on for me!”

Prizes

“We keep all our prize sashes and trophies downstairs. I keep some rosettes from Young Handlers and from my calves in my bedroom, because I like looking at the prizes.”

Favourite animal to show

“My favourite animal I ever showed was a Belgian Blue heifer, called Chloe after me! We showed her as a calf; she was bred by a bull called OVO,” remembers Chloe.

Chloe Hegarty exhibiting her Belgian Blue heifer calf, also called Chloe, at Cork Summer Show 2017 at just 5 years old.

Chloe looks forward to this year’s summer shows. Preparations are already underway for the first shows of the season, with training and grooming a top priority.

“I am looking forward to showing the twins this year. We have a Charolais bull calf and heifer calf to show this year, called Dusty and Daisy, and they are twins.

“We also have a Belgian Blue heifer calf called Joleen to show.”

Future

Chloe clearly has a very bright future ahead of her and it’ll be no surprise if her love for animals encourages her to work with them in the future.

Chloe Hegarty with her 10-week-old commercial twin calves Dusty and Smokey at home at Currevreeda, Bandon, Co Cork. \ Donal O' Leary

Giggling with her parents, Chloe then said, “I think I will keep the milking cows, but I will keep a smaller amount – to make room for a horse instead!

"I think I would like to be a vet when I grow up or just work with animals, but I will definitely keep showing cattle,” she concluded.