THE MAIN hall in the Cillin Hill exhibition centre in Kilkenny was packed on Saturday evening with people watching the national sheep shearing competitions.
Supporters cheered on their heroes in the all-Ireland open hand shearing competition which involves shearing sheep with old-style hand shears.
On stage were two Mayo, two Galway and two Kerry men, giving it their all as the tried to shear eight sheep in the shortest time.
Pat Kerrigan and Tony Halloran from Mayo, Séamus Joyce and Peter Hearty from Galway, and Seán O’Sullivan and Patrick Moran from Kerry, were just a few of the hundred or so competitors from Ireland and abroad who were in Kilkenny this weekend for the competitions.
The Sheep and Wool Festival, which includes the Clik All-Ireland and International Sheep Shearing and Wool Handling Championships, attracted nearly 15,000 visitors and over the weekend 2,000 sheep lost their fleeces.
Festival chairman Micheál Nolan said by the end of the event shearers will have piled up 3,000 kilos of wool from sheep carefully chosen for the competitors.
There were competitors and spectators from all over Ireland, the UK and Europe, and from as far away as Australia and New Zealand.
While there were sheepdog trials, a pet dog show, felting workshops and knitting competitions taking place alongside the competitions, there was a whole series of other events happening as well.
Out in the open air, there was exhibition wrestling, a funfair, a circus, magic shows and live music to keep patrons happy.
The festival also featured a large display area where local crafts people and artisan food producers showed their wares.
Pat Doyle from near Tralee, Co Kerry, had travelled with his family for the event, and said while the journey was long he and his family were enjoying the outing. “We heard it was on, and we were taking a break anyhow, so we decided to have a look and we are not sorry.”
David McClintock from near Ballymena, Co Antrim, said he and his three friends were also taking in the rest of the Kilkenny craic. “The Cat Laughs festival is on here as well, and there is great entertainment and lots of fun around the city . . . There is no sign of a recession here.”
Jack Robinson of Clady, Derry, won the all-Ireland senior title, while Seán O’Sullivan from Killarney won the hand shearing.
Breda Lynch from Kenmare, Co Kerry, won the ladies title. In the wool handling categories, Bronwyen Tango from Wales won the all-nations final, with George Graham from Wexford taking the all-Ireland title.