Sheep shearers will flock to Corofin next month

ONE lucky sheep had her fleece removed in comfort in the plush surroundings of Raftery’s Lounge in Corofin last week.
Champion hand shearer Pete Heraty, fresh from New Zealand, performed the task faultlessly as Peter McDonagh gave an informed commentary on the techniques of shearing.
Anyone who expected to hear the “snip-snip” sound of the old-style shears was disappointed. The new South African style shears are practically silent, and much faster to use.
Most sheep in South Africa are still shorn by hand, because the machine shears goes too close to the skin, and the sheep are then liable to get sunburned.
There was no risk of that for the few sheep shorn on Wednesday: the chill April breeze must have been a rude awakening for them.

This all formed part of the launch of the Connacht Sheep Shearing Festival which takes place in Corofin over the weekend of May 19 to 21 when shearers from all over Ireland and some from the UK will compete.
Open competitions will take place in junior, intermediate, senior, open and blade shearing with an under-18 hand shearing final also.
Over 1,000 sheep will be shorn on the day, so spectators will have plenty of chances to see the speed and skills of some of the top shearers in the country.
The Bimeda Connacht Sheep Show also takes place on Sunday May 21, and this festival will not be only for farming people — there is a whole range of family-friendly activities planned.

Read more and see photos from the launch in this week's edition