Ireland’s Top Sheepdogs and Handlers Set for County Tyrone as 2026 ISDS Irish National Sheepdog Trials Announced
County Tyrone is set to welcome some of the finest sheepdogs and handlers in the country this summer as the 2026 International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS) Irish National Sheepdog Trials come to the Stuart Hall Estate in Stewartstown from Wednesday, August 26 to Saturday, August 29.
The prestigious three-day event, officially launching on June 23, will bring together 150 of Ireland’s top sheepdogs and handlers as they compete for a coveted place at the ISDS 2026 International Sheepdog Trials.
The trials will also see Nugent Trailers announced as headline sponsor, supporting one of the most respected and historic events in the rural sporting calendar.
Hosted at the picturesque Stuart Hall Estate in Stewartstown, the event which will also feature a Craft and Fine Food Fair alongside a vintage car and tractor display and kids zone, is expected to attract visitors from across Ireland and the UK, delivering a significant boost for local tourism and showcasing the rich agricultural heritage of the region.
Organised by the International Sheep Dog Society, the Irish National Sheepdog Trials test the skill, precision and partnership between handler and dog through a series of practical farming tasks including gathering, driving, shedding and penning sheep.
The event begins on the Wednesday afternoon at 2pm with the doubles competition where one handler herds 2 dogs and 10 sheep around the course. Fifty competitors will run each day Thursday – Saturday in the singles competition, with the top 15 handlers earning qualification for the 2026 International Sheep Dog Trials, taking place from September 11-13 at JCB’s Daylesford Estate, Chipping Norton, Gloucestershire.
Speaking ahead of the launch event, Gerard Hegarty, Committee Chairman, said the trials represent not only elite competition, but an important celebration of rural life, farming tradition and working dogs.
“This is more than a sporting event — it is a showcase of generations of farming knowledge, skill and partnership between handler and dog. We are delighted to bring the Irish National Sheepdog Trials to County Tyrone and look forward to welcoming competitors and spectators from across the country and beyond. We are also organising a Crafts and Fine Food Fare on Saturday 29th which will make the day an attractive event for all the family to come along to”
Shane Nugent Group Managing Director at Nugent adds: “We’re proud to support the 2026 ISDS Irish National Sheepdog Trials and the farming communities this event represents. It’s fantastic to see such a prestigious competition coming to Mid-Ulster and to have Stuart Hall Estate being utilised as the venue. It’s a real showcase for the area. At Nugent, our products have always been built for hardworking industries and the people behind them, particularly within agriculture, so we’re delighted to support an event that celebrates skilled farming traditions.”
The official launch event on June 23 will formally unveil the programme for the 2026 trials and celebrate the partnership with Nugent Trailers.
Event Details
• Event: 2026 ISDS Irish National Sheepdog Trials
• Dates: Wednesday, August 26 – Saturday, August 29, 2026
• Venue: Stuart Hall Estate, Stewartstown, Co. Tyrone
• Organiser: International Sheep Dog Society
• Headline Sponsor: Nugent Trailers
• Admission: £10 for adults, children free
• Parking: Free
For further information, media enquiries or interview opportunities, please contact:
Gerard Hegarty
PHONE: 07743 587041
EMAIL: Irishsheepdogtrials2026@outlook.com