UP TO 2,500 sheep will lose their winter coats (fleeces) at the National Sheep Shearing Championships in Portlaoise, Co Laois, on June 5th-6th, which will be attended by up to 20,000 people.
The launch of the event, which will be held in the grounds of the local rugby club, took place at the Department of Agriculture in Kildare Street, Dublin, yesterday.
Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith used the occasion to remind sheep farmers of the support given to the industry by the Government, including a recent scheme which will deliver €54 million to them over the next three years.
He said the European Commission had approved a new scheme for sheep-fencing and handling facilities, which would be launched in the near future following consultations with farm organisations.
Mr Smith added that the department had also provided more than €1 million in support to Sheep Ireland, which had already made tremendous progress in sheep breeding in the last two years.
Known as the Clik All-Ireland Sheep Shearing Championships, the competitions will attract shearers from Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland on the June bank holiday weekend.
A change of format for the event will see all the Irish competitions, including the Irish Open Championship, being held and decided on Saturday, June 5th.
On Sunday, June 6th, the international competitions will be held, including the Clik International Open Championships.
There will also be wool-handling competitions, a shearing competition for women, a national hand-shearing competition and a special competition for shearers from Co Laois.
In addition to the various shearing competitions, there will be a wide range of other attractions. These will include sheepdog trials, a food village, a carnival, arts and crafts and a free children’s entertainment area.