In pictures: Families flock to Balmoral Show

News imagePacemaker Sheep and their handlers lined up at the Balmoral ShowPacemaker
Competition in the Balmoral Show livestock categories is as fierce as ever

Thousands of people are attending this year's Balmoral Show, which opened its gates on Wednesday morning.

The show is a highlight of Northern Ireland's agricultural calendar and features livestock competitions, trade stands and family entertainment.

This is the 154th Balmoral Show and the third since it was cancelled in spring 2020 and 2021 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

News imagePacemaker Ciara Mollan and her young daughter Darcy smiling at the Balmoral ShowPacemaker
Ciara Mollan and her three-year-old daughter Darcy were smiling through the rain on day one
News imagePacemaker A horse and its rider compete in show-jumping at the Balmoral ShowPacemaker
Day one included a show-jumping competition
News imagePacemaker People attending the Balmoral ShowPacemaker
Organisers expect that more than 120,000 people will attend the show at the Eikon Centre near Lisburn
News imagePacemaker A young boy on ride-on lawnmower at the Balmoral ShowPacemaker
Budding young farmer Ethan from Royal Hillsborough in County Down couldn't wait to get behind the wheel
News imagePacemaker A young girl leads a small bull to a display ring at the Balmoral ShowPacemaker
Others youngsters even had their own livestock to show off
News imagePacemaker Leanne Green with her potential prize-winning bull at the Balmoral ShowPacemaker
Leanne Green is hoping to win a rosette with her bull