Junior
Alana Steenson
“My name is Alana Steenson and I have Dutch Spotted sheep. My interest came from my grandad at the age of two. I then got a Spottie for Christmas and that was me. I helped lamb a ewe at the age of five. I love all aspects of sheep farming and showing them.”
Oisín Hogan
“I am 10 years old and I’m from south Roscommon. I am proud to be one of the youngest members of the Irish Dutch Spotted Sheep Society. I love spending time with my grandad, enjoying days at the marts and exhibiting pedigree and commercial sheep at agricultural shows, where I have made lifelong friends. Sheep are my passion and farming is a way of life I truly love.”
Kyle Roche
“I am 10 years old from Kilnaboy, Co Clare. I have a huge passion for sheep and farming. I have my own flock and recently bought my first Suftex lamb. Showing sheep is something I really enjoy. As I grow, I have become more confident handling the sheep myself and now attend more shows. I hope to one day have a full flock of Suftex sheep.
William Murray
“I’m from south Roscommon and I started showing my sheep two-years-ago. Showing sheep has taught me responsibility, patience, and confidence, and I’ve made lifelong friends. I love helping my dad on the farm every day after school and hope to continue producing quality sheep and food when I’m older.”
Darragh Rice
“I am eight years old and I help out on the farm in Mountrath, Co Laois with my parents, brothers and sister. I especially love lambing time, feeding pet lambs and looking after ewes and lambs in pens. I got an interest in showing sheep from my brother Jamie. This is my first year at some shows and I am delighted to have been chosen to participate in the final.”
Daniel Doyle
“My name is Daniel Doyle and I am 14 years old. I live on my family’s sheep and cattle farm in Katesbridge, Co Down... From an early age, I have loved helping with the livestock and learning about farming. Hampshire Down sheep are in my blood – both sets of my grandparents keep and breed them. Reaching the final is something I’m incredibly proud of.”
Ryan Melly
“I am eight years old and I live in Ballybofey, Co Donegal. I am the proud co-owner of Letterilly Dutch Spotted pedigree flock. I attended the Irish Dutch Spotted Sheep Association all-Ireland recently where we won the all-Ireland aged ram championship. I love feeding and caring for my sheep, preparing them for sales and showing them at agricultural shows all over Ireland.”
Ben Patterson
“I am 14 years old, I live in Ballyroan, Co Laois. I do not live on a farm, but I am fortunate to have two uncles, a cousin and my next-door neighbour who allow me to be actively involved in farming. I buy and sell commercial sheep and hope to continue expanding my flock. My cousin and I participate in shows throughout the country.”
Harry Hargroves
“I am 13 years old and live in Coolrain, Co Laois. I farm pedigree Beltex sheep and commercial sheep with my family. Last year, I decided to venture into pedigree Blue Texels and purchased seven pedigree ewes. This year, I continued to expand my flock. Showing sheep is something I am very passionate about. So far this year, I have attended 15 agricultural shows.”
Thomas Deniston
“I come from a suckler and sheep farm. Over the winter we bought four in-lamb pedigree Texel ewes. They lambed in the spring and I decided to go to some shows. I really enjoy the shows and following the bloodlines of the ewes. I am really excited to go to the Ossory Show.”
Luke Rothwell
“This year was my first real year out showing. I started showing for a friend and that’s when I really wanted to start out showing. My first show was Gorey Agricultural Show, where I got reserve champion, a first and two thirds, and the same at the Adamstown Show. We run a Suftex flock, lambing in March.”
Jamie Rice
“I am 12 years old. At home we have a mixed-farm enterprise which includes 300 breeding ewes, mainly Suffolk and Belcare-cross sheep. I do a lot of work with the sheep throughout the year on the farm, dosing, weighing, shearing etc. I started going to shows last year and got a keen interest in it from my friend Harry.”
Nicole Hargroves
“I am 15 years old and I’m from Coolrain, Co Laois. I have had a passion for farming from a very young age. Our family mainly farmed cattle, but my brother developed an interest in sheep. This summer, I purchased two Suftex ewe lambs of my own.”
Jake O’Shea
“I come from Newtowncashel in Co Longford. I am delighted to have got through to the final of this competition. I love breeding and showing our Suftex sheep with my sister Pippa. I hope to keep improving the quality of our flock in the future and to gain more knowledge about the farming and sheep industry.”
Tomás Barry
“We are farming in Co Clare. Our flock consists of 30 breeding ewes, mainly Texel and Suffolk crosses. Last year, I bought five pedigree Texels, which sparked my interest in showing sheep. I enjoy attending shows as it’s a great opportunity to meet fellow breeders.”
Robbie Kilduff
“I’m a pedigree Zwartbles and Dutch Spotted breeder in Co Wexford. I began breeding Zwartbles about four years ago. Since then I have travelled the country attending shows and sales, where we have achieved many milestones, such as taking champion at our ZSBI sale for the past three years and Tullamore National Livestock Show Champion in 2024 and 2025.”
Jessica Wilson
“I’m 21 and from Castlefinn, Co Donegal. I come from a beef and sheep farm and keep a pedigree Blue Texel flock but recently started with the Charollais breed. With my sister, I also run a flock of commercial breeding ewes. I’m passionate about showing sheep, and nothing beats seeing months of hard work rewarded in the sale ring, watching my sheep go off to their new homes.”
Orla Carey
“I’m 18 years old and I’m from Co Tipperary. I love sport and I play Camogie and rugby with Roscrea. I have spent the last four or five years working on my uncle’s dairy farm, which I really enjoy. Throughout the summers, I attend a number of shows with my uncles and cousins, showing sheep. I’m looking forward to representing Clonmel Show at the final in Ossory Show.”
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