News
Two Killarney men selected for Irish team


WHISTLE BLOWS: Tom O'Sullivan (International Sheep Dog Society Local Chairman Killarney) with his dogs 'Glebe Fort Sid' and ‘North Hill Tess' competing in The Brace Class of the Irish National Sheep Dog Trials. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

CHARITY: Dermot O'Toole Coachford Co Cork meeting Yvonne Pennisi from 'My Canine Companion' at the 2021 Irish National Sheep Dog Trials. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

FAMILY FUN: Fergal Daly from Tralee with his wife Colette and children Maeve and Fiadh Daly and Claire and Betty McNamara watching the Irish National Sheep Dog Trials. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

TEAM: Organisers beneficiaries and sponsors of the 2021 Irish National Sheep Dog Trials at Killalee Fossa. From left: Irene Hartigan-Patterson and her daughter Alexandra (My Canine Companion) Kathryn Roche (Business Development Manager Irish Country Meats) Martha and Tara Foley (Local Committee) Aisling O'Sullivan-D'Arcy (South Kerry Development Partnership) Cathaoirleach Killarney Municipal District Cllr. Marie Moloney Adrian Steher (Managing Director Killarney Hotels Ltd. Liebherr) Mairead O'Sullivan Tom O'Sullivan (Local Chairman of the Irish National Sheep Dog Trials) Sean Moriarty (Farm Manager Europe Hotel and Resort Haven) Anna Maria Cronin-O'Sullivan (Committee) Danny O'Shea (Munster Sheep Dog Society). Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan
By Sean Moriarty
Two Killarney men and their dogs have been selected for the Irish team at next month’s International Sheepdog Trials at Aberystwyth in Wales.
Kilcummin native Tom O’Sullivan and his six-year-old dog, North Hill Tess, and Glenflesk’s Mike Healy and his young dog Bill, will join the 15-strong Irish team after qualifying at the Irish National Sheepdog Trials last weekend.
This is Tom’s fourth time making the Irish Team and his second time with this particular dog, Tess, having been on the team previously in 2019.
The Irish qualifiers were held in Killalee, Fossa, by kind permission of The Hotel Europe and Resort, and Mr O’Sullivan, who is the local organising committee chairman, praised the success of the event, which ran from Thursday until Saturday, and was held in Killarney for the first time.
“We had three days of sheepdog trialling at the highest standard and that produced a 15-man Irish Team to compete in Wales next month,” he said. “The event was a great success with a great local committee, many volunteers, and great food from Kilcummin Gourmet Kitchens over the three days.”