Organisers of the Irish National Sheepdog Trials have thanked management and staff at The Europe Hotel and Resort ahead of next week’s event.

Over 150 of Ireland’s top dog handlers will compete on the three-day event - the first time the national championships have been held in Killarney - which gets underway next Thursday, August 5.

The hotel is proud to play its part by making 52 acres of its extensive and superb quality farmland available for this popular event at its own farmland situated at Killalee in Fossa.

“The Europe Hotel and Resort have granted use of their 52 acre field outside Killarney to host the event. The sheep for the event will be from the farm of Jim Dennehy, Gap of Dunloe Road, and Con Healy, Millstreet, Co. Cork,” said local committee chairman Tom O’Sullivan. “The local committee are very grateful to all the volunteers and indeed the local businesses who have sponsored the event in any way.”

Adrian Stehr, Managing Director of the Killarney Hotels Collection, which includes The Europe Hotel and Resort, The Dunloe Hotel and Gardens, and Ard na Sidhe Country House, will be on hand to present the trophies to the successful competitors at the end of the trials.

“We are delighted to be able to host and welcome this prestigious event on to our land where sheepdog handlers and their trained sheepdogs will have an opportunity to showcase their first class skills in a competitive environment,” he said.