Donegal men James McGee (third from left, front row), Martin Doherty (extreme right, front row) and James McCloskey (fifth from left, back row) with the rest of the Irish team that will compete at the 2014 Irish National Sheepdog Trials in Roscommon in September.
THREE Donegal men will represent Ireland at the International Sheepdog Trials in Roscommon in September after qualifying at the Irish National Sheepdog Trial held at An Grianán Estate, Burt, last week.
Ballybofey’s James McGee – the current World Champion – will be joined on the team by Carndonagh’s James McCloskey and Malin’s Martin Doherty. The trio made the fifteen-man Irish team at the end of the three-day event, held at the scenic An Grianán Estate.
Huge crowds attended over the three days as 150 of the top sheepdog and handlers from all over Ireland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man competed for the fifteen spots on the Irish team.
The Irish Team will be captained by John Maginn from Newry, Co. Down, who won the event with his dog Mozz after a great run on Saturday afternoon.
Maginn won the singles event, while Enniscorthy man Frank Cashen, competing with dogs Jip and Alex, won the brace class.
The highly successful event, sponsored by SSE Airtricity, was organised by a local committee headed by Chairman James McGee. Seamus Herron was on hand from the sponsors to present the prizes.
Saturday saw the attendance of the Anglo-Celt and Fr Murray Cups, the Ulster senior and minor Championship Cups won by the Donegal senior and minor football teams the previous weekend and they proved a big hit with spectators.
The Irish team for the 2014 International Sheepdog Trial will be made up of: John Maginn (Newry, Co Down), James McCloskey (Carndonagh, Co Donegal), Dan Morrisey (Clonmel, Co Tipperary), Aidan Gallagher (Ballymoney, Co Antrim), Dean McAuley (Ballymena, Co Antrim), Seamus Gallagher (Ballymena, Co Antrim), Martin Doherty (Malin, Co Donegal), James McGee (Ballybofey, Co Donegal), Peter Morgan (Newry, Co Down), Con McGarry (Castlerea, Co Roscommon), Andy Corrigan (Baltinglass, Co Wicklow), JJ Brennan (Templemore, Co Tipperary), Simon Mosse (Bennettsbridge, Co Kilkenny), Barra O’Brien (Athlone, Co Roscommon), Claire Somers-Cashen (Enniscorthy, Co Wexford).
Brace representatives: Frank Cashen (Enniscorthy, Co Wexford), David Corrigan (Newbridge, Co.Kildare).
John Maginn from Newry, County Down, with his dog Mozz, who won the 2014 Irish National Sheepdog Trials in Burt at the weekend.
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