Latest news with #OlympicsofShearing
Agriland
2 days ago
- Sport
- Agriland
Watch: Carnaross Mart staff shave heads for charity
Staff at Carnaross Mart, Co. Meath recently shaved their heads to raise funds for St. Mary's National School, Virginia, Co. Cavan's diverse educational needs (DEN) class. The head shaving took place last weekend (Saturday, May 31) and the mart has raised over €3,500 to date for the school. The GoFundMe page will remain open until Monday, June 9 for further donations. Carnaross Mart head shave. Source: Carnaross Mart Five members of the Carnaross Mart staff took part in the head shave: Richard Shaw, Patrick Mc Namee, Peter Farrelly, Enda Boylan, and David Craig. Carnaross Mart's Emma Muldoon told Agriland that the decision to host the event was a collective decision. Muldoon said: 'The idea came between all of us here in the mart to do something in return for the local area. 'Planning went on for three weeks. The boys were a bit nervous when it came to the evening,' she said. With all the planning complete, there was a slight change of plan at the Carnaross Inn, Co. Meath, just before the event began. Muldoon explained: 'They had only planned to shave their beards – the heads only came on the night. The idea was only for a beard shave. It was spur of the moment that it turned into a head shave.' Carnaross Mart's GoFundMe page is open until Monday, June 9, 2025. Mart In other news from last weekend (May 31) Mountbellew Mart hosted 'Shearfest 2025', a sheep shearing festival. The event brought competitors from France, Germany, Spain, the UK, and closer to home to pitch their skills against each other in what has been described locally as the 'Olympics of Shearing'. A substantial prize fund was also up for grabs which helped to attract competitors from Australia and New Zealand for the open competitions. The festival saw two of the winners, Denis O'Sullivan and Martin Hopkins, secure their places on the team to represent Ireland at the 2026 Golden Shears shearing and wool-handling champions in New Zealand.
Agriland
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Agriland
‘Shear' entertainment expected at Co. Galway sheep festival
Large crowds will flock to Mountbellew Mart next weekend for three nights and two days of 'shear entertainment' at the European and Connaught Sheep Shearing and Wool-handling Championships. The highlight of the weekend will be the European Open final, which is set to take place on Sunday, June 1. Competitors from France, Germany, Spain, the UK, and across Ireland are set to compete against each other in the 'Olympics of Shearing,' with substantial prize money on offer. The chairperson of Mountbellew mart, Michael Cunniffe said: 'We also have competitors travelling from Australia and New Zealand for the open competitions. 'It's a brilliant competition that will captivate the attention of a huge audience, all keen to witness the exceptional skill of Europe's top shearers and wool handlers,' he added. Alongside the shearing competition, a festival called Martbeat will be taking place. Martbeat is set to kick off on Friday, May 30, with local talent performing, before the night is finished off with George Murphy and the Rising Sons. On Saturday and Sunday, there are several 'legends' performing at the mart, such as Mike Denver, Michael English, Johnny Brady, Ciaran Rosney, Stephen Reilly, and All Folk'd Up. Throughout the weekend, there will also be family fun with mini athletics, a fun fair, face painting, a floating magician, sheep dog demonstrations, cooking demonstrations, a fashion masterclass, traditional farm methods, and a tug of war. Free parking is available for the weekend, and tickets are available online. Sheep shearing The Irish Sheep Shearers' Association (ISSA) Hazel Crowe said she is excited about the competition: 'It's going to be a massive competition, we haven't had something like this in a huge number of years. 'I wouldn't say it's the first one that's ever happened but it's certainly the first one that has happened for a long time. 'To have all those nations together will be really good. Next year (2026), there is the world championships in New Zealand, so this will be great preparation for next year,' she added. The ISSA said that there were over 100 competitors across the two days at last year's all-Ireland championship in Mountbellew.
