Shearfest 2026 — The Provincial Sheep Shearing Championships

Shearfest 2026 — Provincial Sheep Shearing Championships

Mountbellew, Co. Galway · Saturday 30 & Sunday 31 May 2026

The biggest weekend on the rural calendar returns, with two full days of championship shearing, live music, family fun and the largest Wool Expo in the country.

Saturday 30 May

• 10:00am — 5K Sponsored Run/Walk Registration (€10 / €20 family — proceeds to the Irish Motor Neuron Disease Association)
• 11:00am — 5K starts
• 1:00pm – 4:00pm — Provincial Shearing Championship
• All day — Wool Expo, Traditional Farrier Demonstration, kids entertainment
  

• MARTBEAT:
  7:00pm – All Folk'd Up
  9:00pm – Derek Ryan
  
  Bar Closes 12:30am

Sunday 31 May

• 8:00am – 4:00pm — Provincial Shearing Championship
• All day — Wool Expo (incl. Irish Wool Products Fashion Show), Traditional Farrier Demonstration, kids entertainment
• 3:00pm – 6:00pm — Sabrina Fallon (Afternoon Country Social — line dancing demo & jiving competition)
• Sheepdogs Demonstrations 11:30am, 1pm, 3pm

• MARTBEAT:
  7:00pm – Olivia Douglas
  9:00pm – Michael English
  
  Bar Closes 12:30am

Family Fun (both days)

Kids entertainment with an array of amusements including Tug O' War, face painting, balloon modeller, sheepdog demonstration, jiving competition, line-dancing demonstration, food stalls and much more.

Under 12s free with a paying parent/guardian.