Preparations are underway at Mountbellew Mart for the hosting of the 2024 all-Ireland and all nations sheep shearing and woolhandling championships. While
SHARING OPTIONS:
Shearing courses typically costs €120 per day, with certification requiring two days of training. \ CJ Nash
The Irish Sheep Shearers Association (ISSA) has trained up 60 new people in the art of shearing this year.
Following COVID-19 restrictions in 2020, there was a pent up demand from potential shearers for training.
Courses run by the association covered all aspects of shearing including turning ewes, shearing technique, machine maintenance, stretching exercises and nutrition, depending on the participants’ abilities.
Among the 60 people trained up this year were farmers inexperienced in shearing wishing to learn the skill to shear their own flocks and shearing contractors who wanted to brush up on their skills to rectify issues encountered over previous shearing seasons.