Pictures: Crowds flock to see cream of the crop at Tullamore

Record numbers hit the roads for the Tullamore and AIB National Livestock Show where the cream of the country's cattle and sheep were on display.

There was keen competition from the off as contestants eyed the Bonny Babies and Glamorous Grannies crowns.

There was entertainment for the rest of the family too from fashion shows to TV chef Edward Hayden working up a sweat as he traded in his skillet for sheep shearing.

Organisers warned however, that the GAA's plans to move the All Ireland finals from September to August could potentially hit attendances at the show next year.

The games' popularity was backed up by the mean trade on hurleys, sliotars and GAA tops as the Cork and Waterford clash was staged on the big screen. Among the other stands a nifty rotating mop sold like hot cakes, while there was plenty of haggling for workboots, alongside children's balloons and ice creams.

Producer James O'Grady was happy his 5.30am drive from Meenross, Scariff in Co Clare had been worth it after he landed the AIB National Livestock Show Limousin Champion Male with his 10-month-old that he'll be aiming at the sales ring in Roscrea in October.

"There's always a bigger crowd out at Tullamore and you're up against the top animals," he said.

IFA president Joe Healy meanwhile, called for strong political leadership to defend the €6.6bn sector which he described as the "heartbeat" of rural Ireland, with challenges ahead to Brexit and CAP.