All For the Love of Ewe

Break out your wool shears, the Golden Shears World Sheep Shearing championship kicked off on a 25-acre plot of land in May in Gorey, Co. Wexford, marking the second time this event has been held in Ireland. Over 30,000 people were estimated to have attended the festivities, currently being billed as the “Olympics of Sheep Shearing” with shearers from all over the world looking to compete from: New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, Canada, the United States, Japan, Norway, Germany, and China. Less than one month before the event though, an additional 1,000 sheep were still needed. But Irish farmers from the North and South rallied to fill the deficit in time for championships in Gorey.
George Graham, chairman of the host committee and a former competitor in the event remained positive that more sheep will be found, telling The Irish Times, “Farmers are being very generous. We’ve got promises of help as far away as Donegal. People are very supportive.” On top of the free haircut, farmers were also offered bonus prices for wool, and free tickets and products for the event.