A Place in the Ring: Some of the women behind the National Dairy Show
Irish Holstein Friesian Association Young Members Association chairperson Sarah Lyster speaking at the 2026 National Dairy Show.
With the rush and spectacle that’s associated with the National Dairy Show, there was a strong female presence across the stands and ring.
Sarah Lyster, chairperson of the Irish Holstein Friesian Association Young Members Association, may only have gotten into agriculture in recent years but has well and truly established herself within the sector.
Not from a farming background, Ms Lyster was introduced to farming through her boyfriend when she helped him with lambing over lockdown.
Ms Lyster was introduced to the world of showing when she worked for her neighbour, Paudric Greenan at Greenlea Holsteins.
After tagging along to a few shows and Young Members Association meetings with Mr Greenan’s daughters, she joined — she began attending workshops held by the group and showing calves, establishing herself within the organisation and was later elected as chairperson in January 2025.
“It’s [Young Members Association] great. It’s a great group of people, and there is so much excitement for learning, the breed and great friendships and great craic,” she tells the .
The Young Members Association hosts ages from six to 26, with Ms Lyster praising members for their passion for learning, showing and the Holstein Friesian breed itself.
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Since her first introduction to agriculture, Ms Lyster has completed a sustainable agriculture degree at Dundalk Institute of Technology and is currently working as part of the Alltech career development programme, working with farmers in Ulster.
Ms Lyster has no plans to stop anytime soon now that she’s “bitten by the bug,” for all things agriculture, finding her footing among “a wonderful group of people.” Also attending the show as stock women were Lisa McInerney and Claire Hannon.
The Hannon family have been showing their Lisnalty herd for the last six years, with Ms Hannon showing in the ring from the start: “We haven’t stopped since; we love coming to different shows,” she tells the .
Alongside Ms Hannon, Ms McInerney made her “debut in the ring” earlier this year at the IHFA National Calf Show, showing for the Hannons when she started milking for the family in January. She led Inka Ideal 609 at this year’s dairy show, only her second time in the ring.
“She hasn’t left us yet,” Ms Hannon jokes, “and I won’t!” Ms McInerney adds.
Aside from the showing, Ms Hannon says the National Dairy Show is a great time to catch up with friends within the industry and to admire “the quality of the cows” that so many farming families take pride in showing in the ring.
