Heartiest congratulations must be accorded to the organisers of the 2026 Irish National Sheep Dog Trials.

This year’s event was held on land at the historic Stuart Hall, close to Stewartstown in Co Tyrone. The venue was excellent and the standard of competition taking place across the four days of the event was of a truly matching standard.

But it’s only when one sees these animals being put through their paces that one gets a real sense of their innate intelligence and the bond they have with their accompanying shepherds. Sheep have an image of being quite timid animals. In reality they are not. Ewes have a mind of their own. And when grouped together it can take some persuading when it comes to moving them in a certain direction and at a certain pace.

Dogs have been used to muster cattle and sheep in Ireland as far back as Celtic times. The sheep dogs of today come in a range of sizes. But those that can really do the business have one thing in common: an inexhaustible desire to work. They also have a tremendous ability to think for themselves. Ask any shepherd and he or she will tell you that, for the most part, dogs on farm are out of sight and out of ear shot from their accompanying handle. This is particularly the case in a hill farm setting. .

Recent years have seen a significant drop-off in breeding ewe numbers across the island of Ireland, leading some people to suggest that the sector is in terminal decline. But this is far from the case. By far the most competitive events now taking place at local shows the length and breadth of Ireland are sheep young handlers’ classes.

And it is these same young people that are establishing their own flocks and committing to work with sheep dogs in an extremely proactive manner. So, yes, the sheep sector in this part of the world can look forward to an extremely sustainable future.