The Hall of Fame award 2023 on behalf of the Irish Hereford Breed Society was awarded to Mr. Christy Finn. Mr. Christy Finn is the proud owner and breeder of Bawngarriff Herefords in Kilkenny. The Bawngarriff herd was founded in 1952 by Christy & his father Ned Finn. Ned purchased a cow and heifer calf at foot from the late Paddy Foley, Springmount, Co. Kilkenny. A short time later Christy and his father went back to Springmount to purchase a yearling heifer. It was from there that the Bawngarriff herd started.

Christy and his father sold their first Hereford bull in the first ever Kilkenny bull sale and subsequently he has been heavily involved on the sale committee and instrumental in the running of the very successful annual multi breed bull sale ever since. Christy also likes to show and sell his bulls in Kilkenny mart at the Kilkenny Agricultural Society Sales.

Christy is no stranger to the show ring or indeed the winner’s enclosure after exhibiting at shows and sales down through the years including the renowned RDS Spring show and always came away with a rosette.

Over time, Christy continues to sell lot of bulls to repeat customers who return time and time again. Bull sales in recent years have been very good to Christy – during the April 2022 bull sale in Kilkenny, Christy sold two bulls – one sold for €3,500 and the other for €3,400.

Christy has always had the betterment of the breed at heart, choosing top sires to use in the herd and breeding top quality Herefords. The IHBS are honoured to present the Hall of Fame award to Mr. Christy Finn as a way of both commending and thanking him for his years of support and dedication to the Hereford breed.