For over half a century, this event has persevered. Farmers journey from the landscapes of Connemara and Mayo to present their prized ewes and rams. The heart of the event is undeniably the sheep; the two judges might engage in extensive deliberations to determine a victor, yet the prize-giving remains modest and straightforward.
Shepherds, often modest in disposition, form the core of this gathering, many of them feeling a touch of bashfulness in the spotlight. For numerous children, the crowning moment of the fair unfolds during the children’s dog show, a stage where intense competition revolves around the coveted title of the 'best behaved dog of the show'!
Set to unfold in September, the show extends a warm embrace to dedicated farmers who, year in and year out, rally behind the Sheep Show. Their ardent participation spans regions as remote as Achill and South Connemara.
The ensuing categories shall be scrutinized within both Open and Confined divisions:
1. Pair of Ewe Lambs, open (King Cup) and confined (Martin Gavin Memorial Cup).
2. Pair of Hogget Ewes, open (O’Toole Cup) and confined (Tom Lydon Cup).
3. Pair of Aged Ewes, open (T.W. Joyce Cup) and confined (Michael Keane Memorial Cup).
4. Best Ram Lamb, open (Hastings Cup) and confined (Séamus Nee Memorial Cup).
5. Best Hogget Ram, open (Bina McLoughlin Cup) and confined (Hamilton Cup).
6. Best Aged Ram, open (Barrett Cup) and confined (Rosaline & Francis Joyce Memorial Cup).
7. Supreme Champion of the Show (Michael O’Toole Memorial Cup).
8. Supreme Champion Confined (Thomas Halloran Memorial Cup).
Furthermore, a fun Dog Show is on the agenda, starting at 2pm with entry at just €5, encompassing the following categories:
1. Best in Show
2. Dog to Take Home
3. Best Behaved Dog
4. Best Tail Wagger
5. Best Groomed Dog.
1. Pair of Ewe Lambs, Open, King Cup:
1st Dean Kerrigan, Glentrague, 2nd Kevin Moran, Newport, 3rd Mark Davitt, Achill. Pair of Ewe Lambs, Confined, Martin Gavin Cup:1st Padraig Kerrigan, Maamtrasna, Finny, 2nd Padraig Joyce, Cloghbrack, 3rd Padraig Kerrigan, Maamtrasna, Finny
2. Pair of Hogget Ewes, Open, O’Toole Cup:
1st Stephen Grealis, Ballycroy, 2nd John Nolan, Newport, 3rd Mark Davitt, Achil.l Pair of Hogget Ewes, Confined, Tom Lydon Cup,1st Padraig Kerrigan, Maamtrasna, Finny,2nd Dean Kerrigan, Glentrague, 3rd Michael Lydon, Maam
3. Pair of Aged Ewes Open, T.W Joyce cup:
1st John Nolan, Newport, 2nd Michael Conway, Ballycroy, 3rd Sean O’Boyle. Bangor Erris. Pair of Aged Ewes Confined, Michael Keane cup:1st Padraig Kerrigan, Maamtrasna, Finny, 2nd Dean Kerrigan, Glentrague,3rd Jonathan Kenny, Cornamona,
4. Best Ram Lamb Open, Hastings cup:
1st Michael Conway, Ballycroy, 2nd Padraig Kerrigan, Maamtrasna, Finny, 3rd Michael Conway, Ballycroy. Best Ram Lamb Confined, Seamas Nee Memorial Cup: 1st Dean Kerrigan, Glentrague, 2nd Dean Kerrigan, Gelntrague, 3rd Padraig Kerrigan, Maamtrasna, Finny.
5. Best Hogget Ram, Open, Bine McLoughlin Cup:
1st Mark Davitt, Achill, 2nd Stephen Grealis, Ballycroy, 3rd Padraig Joyce, Cloghbrack. Best Hogget Ram, Confined, Hamilton Cup:1st Thomas Joyce, Cloghbrack, 2nd Michael Lydon, Maam, 3rd Heather Joyce, Recess.
6. Best Aged Ram Open, Barrett Cup:
1st Mark Davitt, Achill, 2nd Michael Conway, Ballycroy 3rd Stephen Grealis, Ballycroy.
7. Best Aged Ram Confined, Joyce Memorial Cup:
1st Dean Kerrigan, Glentrague, 2nd Heather Joyce, Recess, 3rd Padraig Kerrigan, Maamtrasna, Finny
8. Supreme Champion of the Show Open, Michael O'Toole cup:
Mark Davitt, Achill, Aged Ram. Supreme Champion Confined, Thomas Halloran Cup, Dean Kerrigan, Maamtrasna, Finny, Aged Ram.