Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon TD officially launched the Sustainable Livestock Village 2026 ahead of this year's Tullamore Show and FBD National Livestock Show, which takes place on Sunday 9 August.
Now entering its fourth year, the Sustainable Livestock Village has become a key feature of Tullamore Show, providing farmers with practical advice, demonstrations and farmer-led discussions focused on improving sustainability and resilience on Irish livestock farms.
A key theme of this year's Sustainable Livestock Village will be the International Year of the Woman Farmer, recognising the vital contribution women make to Irish agriculture, while highlighting the importance of generational renewal.
Through expert discussions, practical demonstrations and farmer-led conversations, the programme will explore how the sector can continue to support the next generation of farmers and encourage greater participation, leadership and innovation across Irish agriculture.
Speaking at the launch on Roy Condell's farm in Co Kildare on Wednesday 24 June, Minister Heydon said: "The International Year of the Woman Farmer provides an important opportunity to recognise the invaluable contribution women make to Irish farming every day.
Central role
"Women play a central role in farm businesses, family farming and rural communities across the country. It also highlights the need to ensure that farming remains an attractive and accessible career path for the next generation, supporting greater gender balance, innovation and leadership across the sector.
"Irish farmers continue to play a vital role in delivering sustainable food production, while also addressing challenges around climate, water quality and biodiversity.
"The Sustainable Livestock Village provides an excellent platform for farmers to access practical information, learn from one another and see first-hand the solutions that can help improve both environmental and economic performance on their farms.
"My Government will continue to provide practical supports to farmers to assist them as they transition to more sustainable food production systems."
The village brings together organisations from across the agri-food sector under one roof, creating a one-stop destination where farmers can engage directly with experts and fellow farmers on topics including water quality, climate action, animal performance, biodiversity, farm succession and generational renewal.
In addition to ongoing partner organisations, this year the National Dairy Council and the Agri-Food Regulator join the Sustainable Livestock Village for the first time, further strengthening the village's role as a collaborative hub where farmers can access information, advice and support from across the agri-food sector.
The 2026 programme will feature a range of interactive displays, livestock demonstrations and expert-led discussions, including sessions on enhancing water quality and biodiversity, supporting generational renewal, driving sustainable animal performance and sustainable farm planning.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to explore practical examples of how sustainable farming practices can deliver both environmental and economic benefits on farm.
Farmer-led discussions
Chair of the Sustainable Livestock Village at Tullamore Show Michael Dolan said: "The Sustainable Livestock Village has become one of the most popular attractions at the Tullamore Show.
"Visitors value the opportunity to engage directly with experts, participate in farmer-led discussions and learn about the latest developments in sustainable livestock production.
"The village showcases practical solutions that farmers can adopt on their own farms, while also recognising the considerable efforts and progress made by the sector to help ensure the long-term sustainability of Irish agriculture. We are looking forward to welcoming thousands of visitors once again this year."
Participating organisations include the Department of Agriculture, Bord Bia, Teagasc, Animal Health Ireland, the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, FBD, Irish Farmers Journal, Macra na Feirme, Meat Industry Ireland, National Dairy Council and the Agri-Food Regulator.
As part of the Sustainable Livestock Village, a photography competition will run in conjunction with the Irish Farmers Journal. The competition, which took place for the first time in 2025, aims to demonstrate good farming practices in relation to sustainability on farms.
The competition opened on Wednesday 1 July and will close on Sunday 26 July, with the winning and shortlisted entries displayed in the Sustainable Livestock Village at the FBD National Livestock Show in Tullamore on Sunday 9 August.
A prize fund of €1,200 is up for grabs in this year’s competition along with free tickets to the show, which will be spread across four categories, including a new addition to recognise the important role women play in Irish farming. The categories for this year’s competition are:
Chair of the Sustainable Livestock Village, Michael Dolan, believes the competition is an opportunity to recognise the good work being done by farmers.
“We want to highlight the sustainability actions taking place on farms across the country and showcase those stories at Tullamore. Farmers are making a real difference every day, and this competition is a chance to share that with the public,” he said.
Farmers of all ages are encouraged to enter by submitting photographs that capture sustainability in action on their farms.
Entries for the competition can be submitted below.
The Sustainable Livestock Village will take place as part of Tullamore Show and FBD National Livestock Show on Sunday 9 August 2026.
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