Four days of competition sheep shearing and we reckon there isn’t a sheep left in Ireland which still has wool! Irish bleaters are now running around the hillsides sporting new haircuts! The Golden Shears World Sheep Shearing and Wool Handling Championships 2014 came to an exciting climax in Gorey, Co. Wexford,  yesterday. Over 6000 sheep were shorn during the four days, in rounds of heats, semi finals and finals. On Sunday evening, Rowland Smith of New Zealand was the Grand Finalist who took the top honour of World Machine Shearing Champion, shearing 20 sheep in record time and with precision and neatness thrown in. Rowland received the prestigious Golden Shears award in the pinnacle event of the Championships. We spoke to spectators who had travelled round the world to watch their teams in action. New Zealand and Australia are famed for their sheep shearers. One Australian sheep shearing contractor told us it’s not unusual to shear 2000 sheep in a day on one single farm. Shearers are competitive in their daily work, and they certainly brought that edge to Championship level. At The Good Food Ireland Village,  which was the hub of great Irish food throughout this major agricultural event , many a shearer and judge, plus spectators, the general public, government Ministers and other special guests, were fed in style by our dedicated food providers. Well done to everyone. Big thanks to all our Approved Providers who worked very long days to keep the food coming, to all our chefs who entertained the crowds with cookery demos, food talks, panel discussions and cook off challenges, the backroom teams and maintenance staff,  who had their work cut out (pardon the pun!) in wet and windy conditions, and to all the competitors, winners and losers alike. Wexford was showcased to thousands of international travellers. Good Food Ireland once again brought an Irish ingredient led food experience, and the first ever restaurant experience at an agri event, onto the world stage, to huge acclaim from all those who dined with us. We certainly enjoyed feeding the crowds!