There was a large turnout at the Irish Hereford Society’s Kilmallock sale on Friday last. As at Nenagh a week earlier demand was brisk with many of the bulls forward selling to Co Limerick and some also to neighbouring counties of Cork and Tipperary. There was a varied price range Prices ranged from 2,000 to 3,400 with the average down on the previous week by 50 Euro. Some of those in attendance felt that quality was marginally down on the previous sale and in addition bulls forward were somewhat younger. The general feeling among purchasers is that the current demand will continue this spring and breeders are not anticipating a slowdown of sales anytime soon!

Judge for the event was Mr. Martin Murphy of Toureenbrien, Newport, Co. Tipperary had quite the task of deciding the Champion and Reserve on the day. After a lot of consideration Mr. Murphy selected the Geashill, Co Offaly bred Ballyaville Gaston bred and exhibited by the Deverell Family as his Champion. The Champion shown at the event by Mr Ivor Deverell is a son to herd sire Killeaney Pompeii and its dam Ballyaville Shelley a daughter to Rathregan Admiral. The purchaser at 3,400 the day’s top price was Paddy Fitzgibbon, Caherlane, Abbeyfeale. The Deverell’s also exhibited a further 1^st prizewinner in Ballyaville Ger. This is a half-brother to the champion out of a Corlismore Swampy daughter Ballyaville Bathsheba. This late October son was purchased by Nigel Heatrick, Glaslough, Co Monaghan at 2,900 as a possible herd sire prospect. Mr Deverell departed the event well satisfied with his 3,150 average on the day.

The Reserve Champion Moyclare Liberty bred and exhibited by well-known Offaly breeder by Mr. Michael Molloy of Belmont, Birr was a son of herd sire Brocca Saviour which also sired the 3,500 Moyclare Lieutenant Reserve Champion at the Society sale at Tullamore and Moyclare Lucrative 3,050 at Kilkenny. The dam Moyclare Pansy 9th is a Yarram Star General daughter and the purchaser at 3,100 is Thomas Giltinane. Patrickswel, Co Limerick.

JJ Farrell, Trillick a Temple, Co Longford a regular exhibitor at GVM Kilmallock had a rewarding day with his three entries averaging 2,900, His top price bull at 3,100 was Trillick Connor by his very successful herd sire and sire of the national Hereford champion in 2014 Steil Gerard a Churchill StormV583 son. Out of Killoe Cora by Trillick Best he sold to Co Limerick man Michael Leahy, Tournafulla. His other two entries sold at 2,800 each Trillick Chieftain also a Steil Gerard son out of Cloghran Sally to Denis Murphy, Adare and Corrarodpoll 1 Will out of Templefort 1 Judy by Corran Hill Firepower to David Kent, Mitchelstown.

Two bulls from the Allowdale herd of Liam Philpott and Anne Pounds, Knocknacolan, Kanturk sold to Co Limerick. Allowdale Storm Prince an ET son of UK import Border Queen by Bowmont Storm A584 sold at 2,850 to Jerry O’Callaghan, Caherconlish while his herd mate Allowdale Classic Gold by Australian sire Mawarra Sentimental and out of Balleen Breezer daughter Balleen Miss Tribute 3^rd sold to Michael Scanlon, Ballingarry, Rathkeale at 2,700. Mr Scanlon later went on to purchase a second bull 1^st prizewinner Dunlever Tanto a Knockmountagh Tarzan son of Clondrina 878^th by Dunlever Umbert at 2,750 from Michael Bird, Dunlever House, Trim, Co Meath.

Aidan O’Donovan and son Eamon were very well pleased with the performance of their 2^nd prizewinner, Bowmont Vancouver son Donovo King Kong. Out of Donovo Gorgeous by Glaslough Esquire this bull with plenty of shape was purchased at 2,800 by Michael Ryan, Templederry, Nenagh.

The 82% clearance is not as strong as that experienced at Nenagh but is a firm indicator of demand for Hereford in the region. Hereford prices for calves, yearlings and forward stores at GVM Kilmallock are consistently among the top prices across the country each week as more and more calf to beef and two year old finishers target the mart for supplies. The CEO at GVM Mr PJ Buckley says that throughput and prices have increased significantly this spring.

The Irish Hereford Breed Society Ltd’s next sale will take place at Central Auctions, Nenagh on Saturday May 17^th. Catalogues can be viewed online at www.irishhereford.com or call the Hereford Society office on 044 93 48855 to request a copy.