Oisín Robinson (age 6); Harper O’Donnell (age 5); Fíonn Robinson (age 4) with 7 week old, Border Collie pups, Ben, Lass and Roy at the launch of the Irish National Sheep Dog Trials.
AROUND 5,000 people are expected to ‘flock’ to Burt for the 2014 Irish National Sheep Dog Trials, sponsored by SSE Airtricity, which will take place on the An Grianán Estate from July 24-26.
Handlers of 150 of the best sheep dogs from Ireland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man will battle it out over three days in an effort to be crowned national champion and secure one of just 15 coveted places to represent their country at the International Sheep Dog Trials.
Each year, the event attracts visitors from all over Ireland as well as Europe, America and New Zealand. As well as the competition, there will also be food, craft and trade stands plus plenty of children’s entertainment, promising a fun day out for all the family.
The current World Sheep Dog Champion James P McGee, from Ballybofey, was on hand to launch the event at SSE Airtricity’s wind farm in Meentycat, Co. Donegal. “As a proud Donegal man, it’s a real honour to host the National Sheep Dog Trials in my home county which has a strong sheep dog trialling tradition,” he said.
“It’s a fantastic family event and I would like to sincerely thank all of my colleagues on the organising committee who have put in so much hard work to make sure we give all the competitors and spectators a really great few days.”
With an installed capacity of 72MW, SSE Airtricity’s wind farm at Meentycat is the largest of its kind in Ireland. It currently generates enough green electricity to power 45,000 homes in the surrounding area.
Seamus Herron of SSE Airtricity said: “We’re delighted to support this event, which will no doubt be one of the highlights of the summer in the local area. At SSE Airtricity, we strive to bring positive energy to the communities closest to our wind farms and the Sheep Dog Trials will do just that. There is a lot of local interest in the event and it’s a great opportunity to showcase the local area on a world stage.”
Donegal has a rich tradition in the event. James McGee, the organising Committee Chairman, is the current World Sheepdog Trials Champion with his dog Becca. James and Becca have also won the Irish National Sheepdog Trials twice, 2005 and 2007. Fellow committee member Sammy Long (Ballybofey) is the current Irish National Brace Champion with his dogs Moss and Sam and another of the organising committee, Tommy Long (Ballybofey) created history in 1998 when he became the first Donegal man to win the Irish National Sheepdog Trials.
Further information can be found by logging on to www.irishnationalsheepdogtrials.org.uk
Norman Witherow, Donegal Investment Group; committee members Thomas Doherty, Brendan Marley, Tommy Long, Charlie Gallagher; Seamus Herron, Service Manager Ireland, SSE Airtricity; James P McGee, World Sheep Dog Trials Champion and Irish National Sheep Dog Trials Chairperson; committee members Sammy Long and Billy McLean and Karen Browne, Irish National Sheep Dog Trials Secretary.
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