Deirdre O'Shea

World shearing champion launches Shearfest 2026

The shearing championships take place on Saturday 30 May and Sunday 31 May on the grounds of Mountbellew Co-Operative Livestock Mart in Mountbellew, Co Galway.

NEWS 23 May 2026

World shearing champion launches Shearfest 2026

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Wool prices predicted to at least double from low base

Wool prices predicted to at least double from low base

SHEEP HANDLING 17 May 2026

New provincial shearing competition at Shearfest 2026

New provincial shearing competition at Shearfest 2026

SHEEP HANDLING 13 May 2026

10-year high for Ulster Wool prices

10-year high for Ulster Wool prices

10-year high for Ulster Wool prices

NORTHERN IRELAND 6 May 2026

Sheep management: actions in the sheep welfare scheme

Sheep management: actions in the sheep welfare scheme

Sheep management: actions in the sheep welfare scheme

MANAGEMENT 1 April 2026

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UK shearing crisis averted as tightening of visas for foreign shearers delayed

UK shearing crisis averted as tightening of visas for foreign shearers delayed

A temporary visa concession has paved the way for 75 foreign shearers to return to UK for summer shearing as they had planned.

NEWS 7 January 2026

Joseph Scahill wins 2026 Golden Shears world intermediate shearing title

Joseph Scahill wins 2026 Golden Shears world intermediate shearing title

Irish shearers excelled among the world’s elite shearers at last week’s Golden Shears world shearing championships held n Masterton, New Zealand.

NEWS 7 January 2026

UK visa clampdown could see 1.5m sheep left unshorn this summer

UK visa clampdown could see 1.5m sheep left unshorn this summer

The UK's National Sheep Association has warned a shortage of overseas shearers could increase the risk of flystrike and lower growth rates.

NEWS 7 January 2026

Joseph Scahill wins 2026 Golden Shears world intermediate shearing title

Joseph Scahill wins 2026 Golden Shears world intermediate shearing title

Irish shearers have excelled among the world’s elite shearers with Sean Dunne finishing second in the Golden Shears junior final.

NEWS 7 January 2026

Final call for Irish Grown Wool Almanac entries

Final call for Irish Grown Wool Almanac entries

The closing date for anyone working with wool that wishes to be included in the almanac is Monday 16 February 2026.

NEWS 7 January 2026

New Zealand shearer sets new nine-hour world ewe shearing record

New Zealand shearer sets new nine-hour world ewe shearing record

Simon Goss completed the remarkable feat of shearing 732 strong wool ewes and pipped the previous record holder Matt Smith by a single ewe.

NEWS 7 January 2026

Tullamore Farm update: ewes scan at 1.88 lambs per ewe joined

Tullamore Farm update: ewes scan at 1.88 lambs per ewe joined

Ewe lambs meanwhile scanned at just over one lamb per ewe joined to rams in a three and a half week breeding season.

TULLAMORE FARM 7 January 2026

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New Zealand dairy tech open day to take place on Laois farm

Irish dairy farmers will have the opportunity to see the latest technologies from New Zealand at an on-farm open day at Camcloon Dairy, Ballyfin, Co Laois, on Tuesday 19 May 2026 from 10am.

New Zealand dairy tech open day to take place on Laois farm

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