A record entry of over 150 Dassenkop and Blue Texel Sheep battled it out in the Irish Blue Texel Sheep Society National Championships in Dundalk Show on Sunday.

Sponsored by Natural Nutrition, entries were well up in numbers from 2025, showing the growing confidence breeders have in both breeds.

Judge on the day was Daniel Hodge from Dykes Farm in Ayrshire, Scotland. Catching his eye and cementing a memorable day for Carlow breeder Nigel Hogan was the Dassenkop Shearling Ewe, Diamond Jellyfish, a Badoney Equalizer daughter.

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Not stopping there, Jellyfish then went on to win the Interbreed championship of the show with over 800 Sheep in attendance, a remarkable milestone for the Dassenkop breed.

Nigel’s success in the Dassenkop’s continued, taking red rosettes in the best ram lamb and ewe lamb classes, with the first prize Shearling ram going to Evan and Kyle Walsh from Co Donegal.

Blue Texel

Things only got better for Nigel Hogan, as he also claimed the supreme champion Blue Texel with his Shearling Ewe, Diamond Journey sired by Mullygarrow Jackpot, rounding of a truly incredible day for the Diamond Flock. For many, the highlight of the day was the Blue Texel ram lamb class consisting of 39 entries. Coming out on top here was Evan and Kyle Walsh’s lamb, Limestone King, a son of the 20,000gns Beili Blues Hulk.

King later went on to stand reserve champion for the Donegal men, who also stood top of the line in the bumper Ewe lamb class, made up of over 30 entries.

Other class winners in the Blue Texels section included Mark Gillanders Powerful bred ram, Francis and Jennifer Donohoe’s shearling ram sired by Derg Jack in the Box and Shannon Murphy’s aged Ewe.

Many of these prize-winning lambs and shearling’s will be for sale at the Society’s Extravaganza Sale in Ballyjamesduff Mart on Friday 17 July.