Leenane Blackface Sheep Show
This event has now been running for over 45 years. Farmers travel from South Connemara and North Mayo in June to enter ewes and rams. It is very much about the sheep; the two judges may spend a considerable time in debating a winner, but there is little ceremony about the awarding of prizes.
Sheep farmers are a shy bunch and most are a bit embarrassed by the attention! The children’s dog show is the highlight of the fair for many a child with much competition for the ‘best behaved dog of the show'!
The show is held in September We welcome all the farmers who year after year support the Sheep Show, and who travel from as far as Achill and South Connemara to compete.
The following categories will be judged in both Open and Confined:
Pair of Ewe Lambs, open (King Cup) and confined. In this class there will be a special prize (Martin Gavin Memorial Cup) for the pair of ewe lambs most suitable for the hill.
Pair of Hogget Ewes, open (O’Toole Cup) and confined (Tom Lydon Cup)
Pair of Aged Ewes, open (T.W. Joyce Cup) and confined (Michael Keane Memorial Cup)
Best Ram Lamb, open (Hastings Cup) and confined (Séamus Nee Memorial Cup)
Best Hogget Ram, open (Bina McLoughlin Cup) and confined (Hamilton Cup). In this class there will be a special prize (Thomas Halloran Memorial Cup) for a hogget ram considered most suitable for the hill.
Best Aged Ram, open (Barrett Cup) and confined (Rosaline and Francis Joyce Memorial Cup)
Supreme Champion of the Show ( Michael O’ Toole Memorial Cup)
There will also be a children’s Dog Show, with the following categories:
Best in Show
Dog to Take Home
Best Behaved Dog
Best Tail Wagger
Best Groomed Dog.