Throughout the 2023 show and sale season, young breeders and cattle and sheep enthusiasts travelled the length and breadth of the country every weekend to put their best foot forward in the show and sales rings.

Hail, rain or sunshine, these youngsters couldn't be stopped - they left a trail of positivity at every event they attended and encouraged new and old breeders to get back on the circuit and, in some cases, forced them to bring their A game.

They wore pride and passion on their faces and felt every victory and every defeat with all their hearts.

It's been an incredible year for the young boys and girls of Ireland.

Kick back and enjoy our trip down memory lane with this selection of the youngsters who made this year a blistering success.

In pictures

Tadgh and Eilish Hannon exhibiting their Belgian Blue calf at Clonmel Show. \ Shanon Kinahan

Chloe Miley proudly showing off her shepherdess crook during a flock visit. \ Shanon Kinahan

Ted Egan from Effin, Co Limerick, exhibiting his second-prizewinning Shorthorn calf at Charleville Show. / Shanon Kinahan

Tom O'Shea of the Templequain Limousin herd from Ballacolla, Co Laois, helping his dad Brendan in the Limousin ring at Clonmel Show. \ Shanon Kinahan

Darragh O'Doherty from Mullagh, Co Clare, with his first-prizewinning calf at the 2023 Kildysart Show. / Shanon Kinahan

Three generations of Shorthorn breeders - Lisa Maxwell with her daughter Erin and mother Nora Dowd at the Shorthorn sale in Carrick-on-Shannon. \ Shanon Kinahan

Jenny and Tori O'Connell photographing their interbreed calf champion Raceview Primrose Lucky at the 2023 Barryroe Show. / Shanon Kinahan

Roisín Flanagan exhibiting in the young stockperson class at the 2023 Kildysart Show. / Shanon Kinahan

Katie Lordon exhibiting her calf in the young handlers' class at the 2023 Ossory Show. \ Shanon Kinahan

Ger, Matthew and Kieran Ryan with their overall Limousin champion Ryans Timothea at the 2023 Barryroe Show\ Shanon Kinahan

Holly, Edwin and Harry Draper pictured with the supreme Rouge de l'Ouest champion at the 2023 FBD National Livestock Show. / A Moore Media

Caitlin Creed and Katie Lordan having a quick snuggle with Katie's calf Rebel Lady before judging kicked off at Middleton Show. \ Shanon Kinahan

David Pearson, Katelyn Creed, Katie Lordon and Aoife Hannon with judge Sinead McDermott in the Sophie Pearson Memorial Young Handlers at the 2023 Ossory Show. \ Shanon Kinahan

Cousins Eva, Ria, Isla and Chloe Miley with their champion sheep at the Sheep 2023 event in Gurteen. / Shanon Kinahan

Young Simmental breeders Anna and Ellen Neenan from the Fearna Simmental herd with Fearna Ruby Red at Glenamaddy Show. \ Shanon Kinahan

Matthew Ryan from Co Cork with his Limousin-cross heifer Hazel that won the reserve commercial championship at Middleton Show, where Matthew also qualified for the Irish Farmers Journal and FBD all-Ireland young stockperson finals. \ Shanon Kinahan

Robbie Barnett with his proud father Clive in the background from Letterkenny, Co Donegal, leading out his grandfather's all-Ireland beef bullock champion at the 2023 Strokestown Show. / Shanon Kinahan

Peter McLaughlan from Co Donegal with his new purchase at the Ballybofey and Stranorlar Mart elite commercial haltered cattle sale. / Shanon Kinahan

Young Claire Coyne, Killbeggan, Co Westmeath, waiting to show her animals at Tullamore Show. \ Donal O'Leary

Jim Dockery, Tom, Fiona and Ian Mulligan with Colin Duffy as Fiona is crowned the Aldi Irish Angus all-Ireland young stockperson of the year. \ Shanon Kinahan

Katelyn O'Brien from Co Donegal sharing a special moment with her champion heifer at the 2023 Tinahely Show. / Shanon Kinahan

Lewis Dodd showing off his prizes from the Simmental ring at Balmoral Show. \ Shanon Kinahan

First time at showing at Balmoral Show is James Donnelly of Glenavy, Co Antrim. He won the special award for handling in the youth handlers (aged 8-11) class. \ Houston Green

Daniel Moloney shakes hands with the commercial cattle judge at the 2023 Balmoral Show. \ Shanon Kinahan

Rihanne O'Connelll from Annaghdown pictured at Claregalway Show.

Norah, Peggy and Elizabeth Finn, Mitchelstown, Co Cork, paid a visit to the sheep breeds and industry stand during the third day at the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska. \ Donal O'Leary

Sarah, Ciara, Kate and Fiona McDonald with their all-Ireland senior Charollais ram champion at Sheep 2023. \ Shanon Kinahan

Chloe Hegarty, young handlers winner, proudly shows off her calf Smokey at the 2023 Tinahely Show. / Shanon Kinahan

Leah Staunton, Castlebar, Co Mayo, showing the overall Charolais champion Sagesse Timothy during the parade of champions at Tullamore Show for Niall and Brendan Canning, Rosses Point, Co Sligo. \ Donal O' Leary

Cousins Daniel and Michael Creed with judge Ray Hunt after winning joint first prize in the senior young stockperson class. \ Shanon Kinahan

Padraig Gormley had the reserve junior male champion with Bracken Ticktock at the 2023 FBD National Livestock Show. \ Alfie Shaw

Junior young stockperson winner Tadgh Hannon from Co Limerick at Tralee Show. \ Shanon Kinahan

Ella and Liam Casey from Fanore, Co Clare, with their first-prizewinning lamb at Claregalway Show. / Shanon Kinahan

Grace Linnane, Bellharbour, Co Clare, preparing Gortaclare Time Traveller for showing at Tullamore Show. \ Donal O'Leary

Paula Melvin and her baby daughter Sadbh NicGafraidg with their Salers champion at the 2023 Tullamore FBD National Livestock Show. \ Shanon Kinahan

Tess Larkin, Tomany, Kylebrack, Loughrea, and Emma Finnerty, Clonlee, Co Galway, waiting to show their heifer Glanville Pasha at Tullamore Show. \ Donal O'Leary

Elanor Reilly with the senior female champion and supreme Limousin champion at the 2023 FBD National Livestock Show. \ Alfie Shaw

Grace, Linda, Luke, Josh and David Wharton with their sheep and commercial calf champions at the 2023 Tullamore FBD National Livestock Show. \ Shanon Kinahan

Young spectators at the Irish Farmers Journal stand and demo at Tullamore Show 2023. \ Philip Doyle

Pearse junior, Pearse, Jessica and Tommy McNamee from Convoy, Co Donegal, with their three all-Ireland calf champions and supreme calf champion at the 2023 Strokestown Show. / Shanon Kinahan

Katie and Kirstin Cronin from Strokestown, Co Roscommon, were at the Midland and Western pedigree sale held in Carrick-on-Shannon. \ Gerry Faughnan

Grace O'Donovan from Co Cork was the champion beef young handler winner for a third week in a row at Middleton Show. \ Shanon Kinahan

Andrea Rafferty leads out the junior cow champion Hallow Diamondbacks Twizzle 3 on behalf of Philip and Linda Jones of the Hallow Holstein Herd at the €13,000 Bailey’s all-Ireland dairy cow championship 2023 sponsored by Diageo and Tirlán. / Shanon Kinahan

Declan and Jack O'Meara from Birr, Co Offaly, with their March-born heifer calf that won the super calf championship at the 2023 Tinahely Show. / Shanon Kinahan

Judge Tom Brennan from Freshford, Co Kilkenny, congratulating seven-year-old Oscar Moore of Aughnacloy, Co Down, on winning first prize in the junior heifer class at the RUAS May Show.

Sarah O'Neill exhibitng her reserve Charolais champion at the 2023 Tinahely Show. / Shanon Kinahan

Michael and Darragh Creed from Co Cork chilling out at Middleton Show. \ Shanon Kinahan

Shannon Murphy with the supreme Blue Texel champion at the 2023 FBD National Livestock Show. / A Moore Media

Billy Heaney from Cashel, Co Tipperary, exhibiting his Charolais calf Smarties at the 2023 Tinahely Show. / Shanon Kinahan

Nora O'Carroll exhibiting her calf in the u12 dairy young handlers class at Tralee Show. \ Shanon Kinahan

A two-year-old Dexter bull named Crumble is shown by Sarah-Jayne Leister of Dermasigh, Co Armagh, on the third day of Balmoral Show held at the RUAS showgrounds outside Lisburn Co Down. \ Houston Green

Jack Ramsbottom with his father Sean's second-prizewinning Limousin calf that sold for €10,100 at the Winter Fair in Carrick-on-Shannon. \ Tricia Kennedy

Dairy young handlers line-up at the 2023 Tralee Show. \ Shanon Kinahan

Aoife Hannon from Co Limerick fixes her calf to perfection at the 2023 Tinahely Show. / Shanon Kinahan

Colin Kearney from Lahinch, Co Clare, with his second-prizewinning bull calf at Newmarket-on-Fergus Show. \ Shanon Kinahan

Sean Kilkenny, Colin Duffy, Cariosa Frost, winner of the under 13 YDP class, judge Adrian Dockery and Jim Dockery at the YDP National Calf Show. \ Tricia Kennedy

Brother and sister duo Saoirse and Darragh O'Doherty from Mullagh, Co Clare, exhibiting their calf at Newmarket-on-Fergus Show. \ Shanon Kinahan

Sam Robinson, Portnahinch, Co Laois, along with Sam and Ben Carter, Clonakenny, Co Tipperary, waiting to lead the Dairy Shorthorn winners in the parade of champions at Tullamore Show. \ Donal O'Leary

Florence Bourke from Castlemartyr, Co Cork, with her Holstein Friesian heifer Bourkeholme Tstorm Ashlyn ET after she was presented with third prize in the under 18 dairy young stockperson class at Midleton Show in Co Cork. \Shanon Kinahan

Caroline and George Maxwell from Armagh with Beechemount Daisy at Balmoral Show 2023. \ Shanon Kinahan

The Alexander family from Randalstown with their commercial champion heifer at Balmoral Show. \ Shanon Kinahan

Molly Bradley, winner of the senior all-Ireland title at the 2023 ISA, IFJ and FBD all-Ireland young stockperson finals. / Shanon Kinahan

Nigel Wood, winner of the intermediate all-Ireland title, and his family at the 2023 ISA, IFJ and FBD all-Ireland young stockperson finals. / Shanon Kinahan

Judge Richard O'Beirne, Nigel Wood, Jack Kennedy, Jim Harrison, JamieDodd, Molly Bradley and Sean Sherman at the 2023 ISA, IFJ and FBD all-Ireland young stockperson finals. / Shanon Kinahan

Sally Towey with Creaga Unstoppable, the junior female champion and top-priced animal that sold for €4,500, at the ISS premier sale in Roscommon. \ Swarber Photography

The FBD Insurance all-Ireland young stockperson finals 2023. Richard O'Beirne (judge), Nigel Woods (Co Mayo, first place, intermediate young stockperson), Jack Kennedy (editor, Irish Farmers Journal), Jim Harrison (national secretary, Irish Shows Association), Jamie Dodd (Co Antrim, first place, junior young stockperson), Molly Bradley (Co Armagh, first place, senior young stockperson), Sean Sherman (judge). \ Odhran Ducie

Junior young stockperson winner Jamie Dodd receives his prize from judge Eimear McGovern at Cappamore Show. \ Odhran Ducie

Niall Regan, Sam Coleman, Michael Flanagan, Yvonne Brady and Brendan Regan with Coney Island Uptown Girl, female champion at Iverk Show. \ Tricia Kennedy

Fegal Gormley congratulates fellow contestant and senior young stockperson winner Molly Bradley at the 2023 ISA, IFJ and FBD all-Ireland young stockperson finals. / Shanon Kinahan

Tadgh and Aoife Hannon, Darragh O'Doherty, Kieran Ryan, Adam Kearney and Chloe Hegarty at the 2023 ISA, IFJ and FBD all-Ireland young stockperson finals. / Shanon Kinahan

Ian Santry and his niece Maggie Davis keeping an eye on the judging at the 2023 Barryroe Show. / Shanon Kinahan

Sarah O'Neill, senior young handlers winner, with judges Elanor Reilly and Catherine Smith at the Carrick-on-Shannon Winter Fair.

Supreme male champion Dunworleypoll 1 Percy with breeder Jack Moloney at the IHBS premier sale in Tullamore. \ Willie McElroy

Colin Duffy, Andrian Dockery, Jim Dockery and Sean Kilkenny with Aoibhinn McCawley, winner of the under 10 YDP class at the YDP national calf show. \ Tricia Kennedy

The Moran family from Co Westmeath at Glenamaddy Show. \ Shanon Kinahan

Sean McGreal and Niamh O'Malley with their all-Ireland breeding heifer champion at the 2023 Strokestown Show. / Shanon Kinahan

Irish Angus YDP members with members of the Irish Angus Cattle Society and representatives from Aldi and ABP at the Irish Angus all-Ireland YDP finals. / Tricia Kennedy

At the €13,000 Bailey’s champion all-Ireland dairy cow championship 2023 sponsored by Diageo and Tirlán. / Shanon Kinahan

Conor Boyce with Tom Bailey's Baileys Trump, which was the junior male champion at the 2023 FBD National Livestock Show. \ Alfie Shaw

Commercial cattle calf judge Mike Hannon conferring with his daughter Aoife before tapping out his calf champions at the 2023 Tullamore FBD National Livestock Show. \ Shanon Kinahan

The Salter family scooped the overall and reserve overall Shorthorn champions at the 2023 Barryroe Show. \ Shanon Kinahan

Paul McGrath exhibiting his Hereford heifer in the breeders choice four-star or five-star heifer class at Clonmel Show. \ Shanon Kinahan

John, Sadie and Sean Ramsbottom, Conor Whelan, Annemaire and Jack Ramsbottom, Sean Lowry and judge Errol McCartan with the overall commercial champion Lucy at Clonmel Show.\ Shanon Kinahan

Gary Mulligan helping out his sister Nichola while showing in the commercial calf class at Claregalway Show. / Shanon Kinahan

Eoin, Elaine, Brendan, Meave and Tom O’Shea with their reserve female champion Templequain Sally that sold for €6,400 at the Irish Limousin Cattle Society premier sale in Roscrea. \Shanon Kinahan

Senior young stockperson second-prizewinner Sally Towey with her little helper Erin Maxwell at Nobber Show. \ Shanon Kinahan