Family affair as four siblings compete at Limerick Show with their beloved animals
IT WAS a family affair for the Hannons from Croagh as the four siblings competed at the Limerick Show with their heifers and bullock.
Tadhg, Aoife, Eilís and Micheál were out in force with their appropriately named bullock Robert and their three heifers - Queeny, Rosie and Betsey.
The classes for youngsters are always a highlight as the boys and girls lead around calves which are bigger than themselves.
Both Tadhg and Aoife competed in the young stock person’s class with eldest child Tadhg earning the bragging rights with the second place prize.
“I love Limerick show, it’s a small enough one and it’s handy compared to some of the other ones like Tullarmore,” he said.
The young stock person’s class alongside the junior handler classes allows the younger generation to gain an interest in cattle while competing for a rosette
The Hannon family are no strangers to the showing ring and are used to getting their cattle in the best appearance possible.
Jennie Hannon, mother to Tadhg, Aoife, Eilís and Micheál said: “The kids love going to shows with the cattle and are well used to the set-up. We travel the length and breadth of the country. In fairness to them, they do most of the work themselves and I only step in when they need extra help.”
The show itself saw hundreds of entries in both the cattle and the horses classes with plenty of young people continuing on the tradition of showing animals at the various agricultural shows around the country.
“I love my cattle and showing them is the best part of having them for me. It is so exciting going around in the ring and letting the judges see how well we have them prepared,” said Aoife Hannon.
They are usually well behaved but when they get around other cattle that they are not used to they sometimes get a bit excited. Ours are well trained so I usually have no issues with them,” she added.