Some of the country's elite dairy stock will be on display this Sunday (August 9) at the Tullamore Show and FBD National Livestock Show.

This year, the dairy section includes classes for four different breeds: Holstein Friesian, Jersey, Shorthorn and Fleckvieh.

Organisers said there has been a record entry across the 45 classes, with an overall prize fund of up to €25,000 on offer.

In addition to the various championships, there are a number of notable classes in the Holstein Friesian section.

The Senior Cow in-milk class, sponsored by Lakeland Dairies, comes with a prize fund of €2,800.

A total of €2,500 will be awarded to the winners in the Super Holstein Heifer in Milk class. This class is sponsored by TP Whelehan Crop Protection.

The show will also feature 'confined' classes for local breeders from Laois, Offaly and Westmeath.

Dairy

The judge for the Holstein Friesian classes is Edward Griffiths of the Coachgate herd in South Yorkshire, UK.

Edward, along with his wife Jenny and family, own and manage 180 pedigree Holstein Friesian cows on their 270ac farm which sits 750 feet above sea level.

Edward is a long-standing member of the Holstein UK national judges panel.

He has judged at national shows in Ireland, the UK, Sweden, Slovenia and New Zealand.

Edward judged the Baileys Champion Cow in 2015 and the National Dairy Show in Millstreet, Co. Cork in 2018.

He also judged the Irish Holstein Friesian Association (IHFA) National Herds Competition in 2024.

Judges

Michael McNamara is the judge for the Jersey cattle breed classes at Tullamore Show.

Along with his daughters Rachel and Emma, he manages the award-winning Barna Pedigree Registered Holstein Friesian herd based near Newtownshandrum in Co. Cork.

Michael is a highly regarded judge and recently judged the Ossory Show in Co. Laois.

The judge for the Shorthorn Cattle will be Stewart Baxter from Co. Antrim.

Stewart and his wife Nyree have the award-winning Erne Ayrshire herd which was established 40 years ago.

Stewart is an award-winning exhibitor having started showing cattle at Balmoral and the Winter Fair in the early 1990s.

Matthias Wieneroither will be the judge for the Fleckvieh cattle.

The dairy farmer is a qualified judge of Fleckvieh, Holstein and Brown Swiss and has judged extensively in both Austria and Germany.

He is the managing director of the Upper Austrian Cattle Breeding Association and AI Station, along with being the current chair of Genetic Austria.

Young handers

Young handlers from across the country will also have the opportunity to display their skills in showring at Tullamore.

Diarmuid Murphy has been announced as the judge of the IHFA Young Members' Association (YMA) Showmanship League classes.

Diarmuid farms with his family operating the award winning Lissaniskey Holstein Friesian herd near Upton in Co. Cork.

The herd currently comprises 400 high yielding pedigree Holstein Friesian cows.

Diarmuid won many awards during his time in the YMA, including Champion Handler and Mature Handler at the National YMA Finals in 2015.

Tullamore Show

Tullamore Show and FBD National Livestock Show is Ireland's largest one-day show, averaging 60,000 visitors in recent years.

The event, being held in the Butterfield Estate, will also feature 700 trade stands.

2026 is a milestone year as it marks the 35th anniversary of the National Livestock Show taking place at Tullamore Show.

For more information on the show, you can check out Agriland's Tullamore Show supplement.