The Overall Commercial Champion owned by Kevin Devine from Mayo and shown by Grace O’Donovan from Cork at the Ossory Show 2025.
Photo: Alf Harvey.
Excitement reached a fever pitch over the weekend as revellers from around Laois and further afield celebrated the annal Ossory Agricultural Show on Sunday.
With a packed programme of family fun, farming excellence, and community celebration, the show continues its proud tradition of bringing people together in the heart of the Irish midlands.
This year’s event was another wonderful success as the eyes of the farming world focused squarely on the Ossory Showgrounds in Coolfin, Rathdowney.
Established in 1898, the Ossory Show has grown into one of the most cherished agricultural events in the region.
This year’s show had a little something for everyone, offering livestock showing, home industries, crafts, baking, equestrian cattle and sheep classes, dog shows, and horticulture.
One of the key attractions for the 2025 Show included the Livestock Competitions, where top-class cattle and sheep showings took place with prizes and trophies up for grabs.
There were also a full range of equestrian events, a dog show and a tractor pulling competition.
Another major highlight was the Ossory Truck Show, drawing hauliers and enthusiasts from across Ireland – provided a spectacular display of trucks, both new and old.
The Ossory Show is supported by the Government of Ireland, Our Rural Future, the European Union, Laois Partnership Company and Laois County Council.
Senior Saler heifer owned and ahown by Catherine Minogue from Feakle, Co Clare pictured with judge Stephen Maginn at the Ossory Show 2025.Reserve Champion Saler junior heifer owned by Catherine Minogue from Feakle, Co Clare and shown by Shane Kelleher pictured with judge Stephen Maginn at the Ossory Show 2025.Conor Melvin and Jane Scally from Dublin with Alfred Melvin’s pedigree saler female calf at the Ossory Show 2025.The Ashbourne Meats All Ireland Pedigree Belgian Blue Breeding Heifer owned and shown by Tommy and Pauline Fitzgerald from Clonaslee, Co Laois at the Ossory Show 2025.The Ashbourne Meats All Ireland Pedigree Belgian Blue Reserve Breeding Heifer owned and shown by LIsa Delaney from Mountmellick, Co Laois pictured with Thomas O’Doherty, Irish Pedigree Belgian Blue president at the Ossory Show 2025.The Reserve Pedigree Friesian Junior Dairy champion owned by Sean Kelly, Horseleap, Co Offaly and shown by Elsie Kelly at the Ossory Show 2025.The Reserve Pedigree Friesian Junior Dairy champion owned by Sean Kelly, Horseleap, Co Offaly and shown by Elsie Kelly at the Ossory Show 2025.The FBD sponsored Pedigree Irish Belgian Blue September Reserve Champion owned by James McNally from Longford (left) pictured with judges Denise and Tim O’Donovan; handler Fergal Manning; Thomas O’Doherty, Pedigree Irish Belgian Blue president; Sean Sherman, Show PRO and Paul Cuddy FBD at the Ossory Show 2025.The FBD sponsored Pedigree Irish Belgian Blue September Reserve Champion Bull (called Superman) owned and shown by Liam and Colin Lynch from Mountmellick, Co Laois, pictured with judges Denise and Tim O’Donovan; Thomas O’Doherty, Pedigree Irish Belgian Blue president; Sean Sherman, Show PRO and Paul Cuddy FBD at the Ossory Show 2025.The FBD sponsored Pedigree Irish Belgian Blue All Ireland January Heifer Champion and Reserve Champion owned and shown by Liam, Colin, Maria and Leanne Lynch from Mountmellick pictured with handler James Daly; judges Denise and Tim O’Donovan; Thomas O’Doherty, Pedigree Irish Belgian Blue president; Sean Sherman, Show PRO and Paul Cuddy FBD at the Ossory Show 2025.The FBD sponsored Pedigree Irish Belgian Blue All Ireland January Heifer Reserve Champion owned and shown by Liam, Colin and Leanne Lynch from Mountmellick pictured with judges Denise and Tim O’Donovan; Thomas O’Doherty, Pedigree Irish Belgian Blue president; Sean Sherman, Show PRO and Paul Cuddy FBD at the Ossory Show 2025.Eamon Flanagan from Derrylamogue, Rosenallis, Co Laois with his prize winning Simmental at the Ossory Show 2025.The FBD sponsored Pedigree Irish Belgian Blue All Ireland Reserve January Champion owned by Billy Dunne from Errill, Co Laois pictured with Thea Dunne, Grainne Higgins, judges Denise and Tim O’Donovan; Thomas O’Doherty, Pedigree Irish Belgian Blue president; Sean Sherman, Show PRO and Paul Cuddy FBD at the Ossory Show 2025.Emma Parr from Clogh, Co Kilkenny after winning the Hereford Young Handler at the Ossory Show 2025.The Overall Commercial Champion owned by Kevin Devine from Mayo and shown by Grace O’Donovan from Cork at the Ossory Show 2025.Winner of the Sophie Pearson Memorial Trophy, Katie Lordan from Drimoleague, Co Cork pictured with David Pearson and judge Grainne Higgins at the Ossory Show 2025.Young Handler winner, Keelan O’Shaughnessy from Boley, Abbeyleix, Co Laois at the Ossory Show 2025.The Reserve Champion Limousin owned and shown by Jack Searson from Roscrea pictured with Sarah Jane O’Meara at the Ossory Show 2025.The Champion Pedigree Friesian owned and shown by Paul Ging from Portlaoise, Co Laois pictured with his nieces and nephews; judge Joe Healy and sponsor Donal Carey from the IHFA at the Ossory Show 2025.The Dawn Meats Champion Heifer owned and shown by Tadhg and Aoife Hannon from Crogh, Limerick pictured with Pat Hally from Dawn Meats at the Ossory Show 2025.The Dawn Meats Champion Bullock owned by Oliver and Jason Stanley from Oldcastle, Co Meath; shown by Jason Stanley and pictured with Pat Hally from Dawn Meats at the Ossory Show 2025.The Chanelle Animal Health sponsored All Ireland Commercial Breeding Heifer owned by Kevin Devine, Claremorris, Co Mayo (left) pictured with handler Chris Meehan; Freda Kinnarney, ISA president; Conor O’Connor, Chanelle Animal Health and judges David and Chloe Hegarty at the Ossory Show 2025.The prize winning Red Angus owned Pat Meehan from Rathdowney and shown by Isla and Alannah Brennan at the Ossory Show 2025.The All Ireland Male or Female calf born in 2025 and sponsored by Stanley & Corcoran Veterinary, won by Cailin Keaveney and Conor Craig from Galway pictured receiving the Betty Stanley cup from Jimmy Stanley, sponsor Damien Corcoran, Stanley & Corcoran Veterinary at the Ossory Show 2025.The overall champion Angus owned by John Barlow, Tipperary and shown by Cillian Barlow pictured with judge Davina Lewis at the Ossory Show 2025.The FBD sponsored Pedigree Irish Belgian Blue September Champion owned and shown by Peter McCabe from Naas, Co Kildare, pictured with judges Denise and Tim O’Donovan; Thomas O’Doherty, Pedigree Irish Belgian Blue president; Sean Sherman, Show PRO and Paul Cuddy FBD at the Ossory Show 2025.The FBD sponsored Pedigree Irish Belgian Blue All Ireland January Heifer Champion owned and shown by Liam, Colin, Maria and Leanne Lynch from Mountmellick pictured with handler James Daly; judges Denise and Tim O’Donovan; Thomas O’Doherty, Pedigree Irish Belgian Blue president; Sean Sherman, Show PRO and Paul Cuddy FBD at the Ossory Show 2025.The FBD sponsored Pedigree Irish Belgian Blue All Ireland September Heifer Champion owned by Billy Dunne from Errill, Co Laois pictured with Thea Dunne, Grainne Higgins, judges Denise and Tim O’Donovan; Thomas O’Doherty, Pedigree Irish Belgian Blue president; Sean Sherman, Show PRO and Paul Cuddy FBD at the Ossory Show 2025.The FBD sponsored Pedigree Crossbred Irish Belgian Blue All Ireland Champion (called Storm) owned by Grace Wharton from Birr, Co Offaly pictured with Show president Jimmy Stanley and Paul Cuddy FBD at the Ossory Show 2025.The FBD sponsored Pedigree Irish Belgian Blue All Ireland January Bull Champion owned by Neil and Adam Blenerhassett from Killarney, Co Kerry pictured with judges Denise and Tim O’Donovan; Thomas O’Doherty, Pedigree Irish Belgian Blue president; Sean Sherman, Show PRO and Paul Cuddy FBD at the Ossory Show 2025.The Champion Simmental owned and shown by Garrett Behan from Ballyfin, Co Laois pictured with handlers Hannah Sunderland and Ronan Finn at the Ossory Show 2025.The Junior Champion Hereford, owned and shown by Edward Dudley from Thurles, Co Tipperary at the Ossory Show 2025.The Champion Male Charolais owned and shown by Megan Searson from Roscrea at the Ossory Show 2025.The Interbreed champion owned and shown by Martin Ryan from Thurles at the Ossory Show 2025.The Champion Saler owned and shown by Niall Hunt from Templeboy, Co Sligo pictured with judge Stephen Maginn and Tommy Fitzpatrick presenting the Fitzpatrick Cup at the Ossory Show 2025.The Ashbourne Meats All Ireland Pedigree Belgian Blue Breeding Heifer owned and shown by Tommy and Pauline Fitzgerald from Clonaslee, Co Laois pictured with Thomas O’Doherty, Irish Pedigree Belgian Blue president; Sean Sherman, Show PRO and Freda Kinnarney, ISA president at the Ossory Show 2025.Martin Kelly from Ricketstown, Co Carlow with his champion Shorthorn and Grace and Jack Kelly at the Ossory Show 2025.The Pedigree Friesian Junior Dairy champion owned and shown by Adam Doran from Ballinasloe at the Ossory Show 2025.The Chanelle Animal Health sponsored All Ireland Commercial Breeding Heifer owned by Kevin Devine, Claremorris, Co Mayo (left) pictured with handler Chris Meehan and Freda Kinnarney, ISA president at the Ossory Show 2025.Eoin and Patrick Phelan from Clara with their Shorthorn Reserve Champion at the Ossory Show 2025.All photos by Alf Harvey
