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Fireball lights up Kilmallock Hereford Show & Sale 2024!

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The annual Hereford show & Sale was held in GVM Kilmallock on Friday 19th April.

The continuous wet weather further hindered the clearance rate of this sale and also added to the unusually large number of entries. Despite this, the prices remained steady throughout the sale. The average price of the sale was €3,600 and all to one bull sold for €3,000 and above.

The task of judging on the day fell to well known local Hereford breeder Patrick O’Donnell from Glenvalley Herefords, Mitchellstown. There were five large classes to judge on the day but that didn’t deter the judge in carrying out the job efficiently. Patrick’s choice of Champion on the day was Ballinveney Flincher by Rory Farrell, Tipperary. This October 2022 bull was sired by Black Water Lad and bred from a Churchill Storm dam.  

Champion: Ballinveney Flincher with breeders Dan & Brian Farrell, Judge Patrick O’Donnell & IHBS President John Boddy

There was further success for the Farrell family when their second lot and the youngest bull in the sale – Ballinveney Fireball topped the sale at €5,650. This December 2022 born bull was sired by Haven Kingpin and bred from a Bowmont Storm dam. He has three stars for the Replacement Index and four stars the Terminal Index, +12kg for carcass weight and five stars for carcass conformation. Fireball was sold to Gageboro Herefords for €5,650.

Sale Topper: Ballinveney Fireball with purchaser John Holloway, breeders Brian, Dan, Seamus, Noreen & Rory Farrell.

Reserve Champion was awarded to Clondrinapoll 1 1404TH by Gerard & Declan Donnelly, Clare. This November 2022 born bull was sired by Cill Cormaic Perseus and bred from a Solpoll 1 Lawman dam. This bull has four stars for the Replacement Index, an easy calving figure of 1.5% for beef cows and 4% for beef heifers. This bull was sold to a Pedigree herd for €4,050.

Reserve Champion Clondrinapoll 1 1404TH with breeder Declan Donnelly, Judge Patrick O’Donnell, IHBS President John Boddy & Sponsor Tennyson Egar from Irish Hereford Prime

The next top priced bull on the day was Lot 18 – Kyepoll 1 1 Panda 989 by Padraig McGrath, Roscommon. This July 2022 bull was purchased by Richard and Jack Heffernan for €4,000. Panda was sired by Fabb 1 Northern Star and bred from a Hollystone 1 Liquid Gold 390 dam. Panda has a page of stars including five stars for the Replacement Index (€160) – the highest Replacement bull catalogued, Five stars for Termina Index, nearly double the breed average for milk, Dairy Beef Index value of €125 and a dairy cow calving figure of 3.6%. Kye Herefords also sold two other bulls on the day – Lot 21 Kyepoll 1 1 Panda 991 (the second highest Replacement bull catalogued) for €3,000 and Lot 33 Kye Ranger 999 for €3,400.

Kyepoll 1 1 Panda 989 with breeder Padraig McGrath, Sponsor Tennyson Egar from Irish Hereford Prime, breeder Catherine McGrath & purchasers Richard & Jack Heffernan.

Lot 14 Moyclare Victor by Michael Molloy, Offaly also sold on the day for €3,700. This July 2022 bull was sired by Caislean Jake and bred from Moyclare Ursula 14th, a Nanscient Lookout dam. Victor has a very easy calving figure of 1.5% on beef cows, 3.2% on dairy cows, -0.1 days for gestation and four stars for the Replacement Index.

Moyclare Victor

The next lot into the ring was Kingsgrovepoll 1 Kid 15, exhibited by Michael Dullea, Cork. This July 2022 bull was sired by Solpoll 1 Kentucky Kid P and bred from a Gouldingpoll 1 Captain dam. Kid has five stars for both the Replacement and the Terminal Index along with being -0.6 days for gestation. Kid sold for €3,700 also.

Kingsgrovepoll 1 Kid 15 with exhibitor Michael Dullea & Sponsor Tennyson Egar from Irish Hereford Prime

The next lot into the ring was Awbegpoll 1 Dylan by Adrian Curtin, Cork. Another July bull – Dylan is sired by Gouldingpoll 1 Gold Spice and bred from a Kye Harry 686 dam. Dylan has five stars for the Replacement Index, four stars for the Terminal index and carcass weight. Dylan was purchased by a Limerick farmer for €3,600.

Awbegpoll 1 Dylan

There were a further four bulls sold during the sale for €3,200:

Lot 17 Keenagh Theo

Lot 34 Trillick Gerry 2

Lot 46 Rathnollag Dasher

Lot 48 Keenagh Twister

Many thanks are extended to the pre-sale inspector Tommy Fitzgerald, the show judge, Patrick O’Donnell, Sale auctioneer, Eamonn Gaffney, GVM Kilmallock staff, Shanon Kinahan & the Irish Farmers Journal for the sale photography & coverage and Irish Hereford Prime for their continued sponsorship.

Competition, News, Society, Uncategorized

Irish Hereford Travel Bursary 2024

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The Irish Hereford Breed Society will be bringing a team of four young Hereford breeders aged between 18 and 26 years of age to the World Hereford Conference in Kansas, USA in October 2025.  Irish Hereford Prime have created a travel bursary for the event to the total value of €10,000. This will see each of the four successful candidates receive €2,500 towards the cost of their trip.

As part of the World Hereford Conference there is a dedicated young breeder competition that will take place from the 19th to the 25th of October 2025. The Irish Hereford Breed Society and Irish Hereford Prime intend to run a competition throughout 2024 to choose a team of four young Hereford breeders to travel to Kansas and compete against young Hereford breeders from around the world.

At the World Hereford Conference, young breeders will participate in a variety of skills-based events centred around the United States agriculture industry. To conclude the event, the young breeders will participate in a fitting and showmanship competition at the American Royal on October 25th 2025 with the winners being crowned at the closing reception. Further details for the event in Kansas will be posted by the American Hereford Association as they become available. Each of the four members of Team Ireland will be entitled to a €2,500 travel bursary from Irish Hereford Prime to be able to make the journey and compete in the international competition. There are also tours organised either side of the World Hereford Conference that young breeders would be eligible to attend if they wished to do so.

Competition Schedule for 2024:

Hereford breeders or Son / Daughter or Niece / nephew of Registered Hereford breeders.

Aged 18 – 26 years of age on 1st November 2025 (born between 1st November 2007 and 2nd November 1998) 

Launch: 15th April 2024

End: October 2024 – GVM

  • Application form – 10%– email louise@irishhereford.com to obtain this form – Deadline is midnight on 3rd May 2024
  • Workshop – 20%
  • Grooming / show prep / clipping / haltering & leading cattle.
  • Presentation & dressing of oneself for showing.
  • Ability to discuss / describe how they prepared and presented their animal.
  • Show – attend one of four designated shows – 25%
  • Must show a Hereford animal in one of the main Hereford classes during the show – not just in the YH class. An independent judge(s) to score that person’s abilities.

  • Factory tour and Stock judging of HEX animals ahead of slaughter – 20% – scored on accuracy of estimated carcase weights, grades & fat scores.

  • Final stage – Private interview including a 3-minute presentation – 28th September 2024 at The Tullamore Court Hotel -25%

Team Ireland – Winners will be obliged to:

  1. Finalists requested to attend the National Hereford Calf show 2024 in GVM Tullamore.
  2. Make presentation at the IHBS AGM in March 2025
  3. Video/s interviews of winners on their farm/s or all on one farm.
  4. Attend one workshop day in 2025
  5. Social media – winners will be expected to generate their own social media video & telling the story of their trip, uploading to their own SM channels, and tagging @irishherefordprime who may share some of the content. Full details will be supplied.

While at the Conference, contestants will take part in a variety of skills based events centered around the United States agriculture industry.
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To conclude the competition, youth will participate in a fitting and showmanship competition at the American Royal on Oct. 25, 2025. The winners will be crowned at the closing reception. Details for the event will be posted as they become available.

For further information please contact louise@irishhereford.com or on 044 9348855.

Competition, Sales, Shows, Society, Uncategorized

Herefords in high demand during the Premier Show & Sale in Tullamore!

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The Premier Hereford Show & Sale was held in GVM Tullamore on Saturday 23rd March. The sale was a flyer right from the start and seen top quality Hereford bulls being sold for good money. The quality of bulls presented following the on-farm pre-inspection was second to none and obviously greatly appreciated as only three of the 28 lots for sale retuned home unsold.  The average price was €4,000 and 90% of bulls were sold on the day with the top priced being earned for Reserve Champion on the day – Griananpoll 1 Whizkid who was purchased by Pedigree Hereford breeder for €6,000.

The judge on the day was non-other than Seamus Nagle from Bull Bank. With very even classes – Seamus took great determination in choosing his choice of winners. Seamus tapped out lot 20 as his Champion – Cloonfree Hotspur by John Mullooly, Roscommon. This September 2022 bull was sired by Trillick Hotspur and bred from Cloonfree Sallyann – a Battalion Frontier dam. This very attractive looking bull has won prizes at several shows. Cloonfree Hotspur was purchased for €4,000.

Champion: Cloonfree Hotspur, sold for €4,000, with IHBS President, John Boddy, Judge Seamus Nagle, breeder Don Goggin, Tennyson Egar from Irish Hereford Prime and breeder Maeve Mullooly

Reserve Champion on the day was awarded to Griananpoll 1 Whizkid by T&A Fitzgerald, Westmeath. This April 2022 homozygous polled bull was busy serving polled cows on the farm during the previous Autumn. He is sired by IHBS Breed Improvement sire, CCR Stamina and bred from Griananpoll 1 Orange M 661. Whizkid has a page of stars – five stars for the Replacement and the Terminal Index along with having nearly double the breed average kgs for carcass weight and milk. Whizkid topped the sale a €6,000 and was purchased by a Pedigree Hereford breeder from Tipperary.

Reserve Champion: Griananpoll 1 Whizkid, topped the sale at €6,000, with breeder Anselm Fitzgerald, Westmeath, Judge Seamus Nagle and IHBS President John Boddy

Corranpoll 1 Jameson, by Ivor Anderson, Cavan, is a May 2022 born bull who was sired by a Panmure 1 Henry son, Corranpoll 1 Hashtag, and bred from a Corlismore Leonardo 927 dam. Jameson has five stars for the Terminal Index and a DBI of €114 along with a dairy cow calving figure of 3.2% and a very easy beef cow calving figure of 1.7%. Jameson was sold for €4,550.

Corranpoll 1 Jameson, with breeders Gladys & Ivor Anderson, Cavan, sold for €4,550

The next lot into the ring was Carrick Ivor by Philip Lynch, Cavan. Ivor is a Carrick Jake 178 son and bred from Kilsunny Lass Lola. Ivor has five stars for both the Terminal Index and Carcass weight rated at +10.9kgs. Ivor was purchased by a repeat customer from Kerry for €4,100.

Carrick Ivor, with breeder Philip Lynch, Cavan, sold for €4,100

The next lot into the ring was Caonach Jimi Y 232 by David Jones, Longford. First prize winner, this June 2022 bull was sired by Cill Cormaic Marvel and bred from a Kye Rodge 553 dam. He has four stars for the Terminal Index, Carcass weight and Carcass conformation and was purchased by a Pedigree Hereford breeder from Tipperary for €5,000.

Caonach Jimi Y 232, sold for €5,000, with Judge Seamus Nagle, breeder David Jones, Longford, Tennyson Egar from Irish Hereford Prime and exhibitor Scott Jones, Longford.

Dromona Tommy ET, by Maurice Geary, Limerick, was sold for €4,300. This July 2022 born bull was sired by Haven Wizard and bred from Kye Sheila 784, former Munster Cow of the Year 2021. Tommy has a DBI of €114 and a dairy cow calving figure of 3.6%. He also has four stars for the Replacement Index, five stars for the Terminal Index, a very easy beef cow calving figure of 1.6% and +13.6kg for Carcass weight.

Dromona Tommy ET, with breeder Maurice Geary, Limerick, sold for €4,300

Trillick Fionn also sold very well on the day for JJ & Ciaran Farrell, Longford when he was purchased for €5,000. Fionn, sired by Corlismore Commander 080 and bred from a Freetown Hotspur dam, has five stars for the Terminal Index and a very easy beef cow calving figure of 1.1%. Fionn’s DBI is €108 and his dairy cow calving figure is 3%.

Trillick Fionn, with breeders Ciaran and JJ Farrell, Longford, sold for €5,000

Carrowboy 1 Perfect by Alan Gibbons sold for €4,600 during the sale to Northern Ireland. This Fabb 1 Northern Star son was bred from Woodviewpoll 1 Pippa. This super docile bull was born in November 2022, has four stars for the replacement Index and is -6.03 days for daughter calving interval.

Carrowboy 1 Perfect, with Keith Marshall, sold for €4,600

The Deverell family from Offaly sold their two lots on the day. Their second lot sold to a fellow Offaly farmer for €4,400. Avillepoll 1 Raphael, born in August 2022 is sired by Dernaroy 1 Oscar and bred from a Ballinveney Marvel dam who also bred Ballyaville Neilson who was sold to Ballyraggan Herefords at the Premier Hereford sale in 2021. Raphael has a DBI of €108, four stars for the Terminal Index and Carcass weight and five stars for Carcass Conformation.

Avillepoll 1 Raphael, with breeder Ivor Deverell, Offaly, sold for €4,400

The final two lots of bulls for the day was by the Drumm family, Westmeath. The first bull was December 2022 bull – Crowenstown Tinsel Tommy, a Hollow Point Broker son and bred from the prize winning Grianan Orange V911. Tinsel Tommy has Four stars for the Replacement Index, five stars for the Terminal Index, Carcass Weight (+12kg) and DBI value of €117. Tinsel Tommy was a prize winner at several shows during 2023. This young bull caught the eye of a Pedigree breeder from Laois and was purchased for €4,500.

Crowenstown Tinsel Tommy, with breeder Elisa Drumm, buyers Brian & Ella Stanley & breeder Tara Drumm, Westmeath, sold for €4,500

The final bull in the sale was Crowenstown Hanley – a Conmelvin Ollie son and bred from Crowenstown Arethusa Ivy who was 1st prize winner at the National Hereford Show 2022. Hanley himself won the Supreme Junior Calf Championship at the National Hereford Calf Show 2023. After palcing first in his class on the day – this yearling bull was sold for €5500 to Dovea Genetics in association with Irish Hereford Prime as part of their Beef Sustainability Program.

Crowenstown Hanley, with breeder Tara Drumm, Westmeath & Tennyson Egar from Irish Hereford Prime. Hanley was sold for €5500 to Dovea Genetics in association with Irish Hereford Prime as part of their Beef Sustainability Program

Other prices on the day included:

  • Lot 1 – Rathregan Mario sold for €3,500
  • Lot 2 – Portanob Resolve sold for €3,300
  • Lot 6 – Fortviewpoll 1 Robert sold for €3,700
  • Lot 13 – Avillepoll 1 Raksha sold for €3,500
  • Lot 16 – Glaslough Andy sold for €3,500
  • Lot 18 – Ardmulchan Upside Down sold for €3,500
  • Lot 21 – Grianan Anchorman ET sold for €3,000
  • Lot 22 – Kye Commander 006 sold for €3,200
  • Lot 23 – Corlismorepoll 1 Escobar 215 sold for €3,500
  • Lot 24 – Corlismore Ermando 217 sold for €3,500
  • Lot 26 – Appel 1 Baptiste sold for €3,500
  • Lot 29 – Moyclare Vincenzo sold for €3,500
  • Lot 30 – Bawnlea 1 Enzo Ferrari sold for €3,500
  • Lot 34 – Appel 1 Dawn Break sold for €3,500 – the only heifer in the sale

Many thanks are extended to the pre-sale inspector Mr. John Beirne, the show judge, Mr. Seamus Nagle, Sale auctioneer, Mr. Eamonn Gaffney, GVM Tullamore, all stewards on the day and Irish Hereford Prime for their continued sponsorship.

Competition, News, Society, Uncategorized

Direct Debit Mandate Raffle for AI Straws – Random winners

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The raffle for AI straws for all members who signed upto pay by Direct Debit was held on 11th March 2024 following all mandated being returned to the Society office on or before 8th March.

There were 380 entrants in the raffle.

The five random winners are:

  • Tom McDermott
  • Edel Barrett
  • Colm Kelly
  • Jim & Donal Fitzpatrick
  • Aidan Wrynne

Each of the above have been emailed and are entitled to either:

–         five complimentary straws of KNOCKMOUNTAGH CUCHULLAIN HE9637

or

–         three complimentary straws of Kanimbla Power Quest HE9652

Competition, News, Sales, Shows, Society, Uncategorized

Next Gen Herefords Youth Competition caps off a successful year!

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The Irish Hereford Breed Society in conjunction with; Next Gen Herefords, North Leinster Hereford Branch and Genetic Gems held a very successful Hereford event in GVM Tullamore on Friday 17th & Saturday 18th November. This event is in it’s 3rd year, built on the success of 2021 and 2022.

The weekend kicked off on Friday 17th November with the Next Gen Herefords Youth Competition which saw 30 young handlers competing against each other. This year the committee made a change to the entry of the young handlers competition, whereby young handlers who placed 1st or 2nd in the Hereford Young Handler Class at Charleville show, Arva show and Trim show were automatically through to the finals in GVM Tullamore on Friday night in either the Junior, Intermediate or Senior category. Also, though any young handler who didn’t place 1st or 2nd or who didn’t compete in any of these three shows – were entitled to enter the wild card class on the Friday night ahead of the finals and the 1st and 2nd winners from the wild card classes won a place in the finals later in the evening. The committee are happy with how the event worked out with this new change and felt the evening flowed much smoother with smaller classes while also encouraged breeders to support summer shows.

The event incorporated a Young Handlers Competition whereby each young handler showed an animal. The competition was judged by Mr. Edward Dudley from Kilsunny Herefords, Tipperary, breeder of the most very popular AI sire: Kilsunny Goliath. Grooming of each animal was also incorporated into the competition and each competitor was given an hour to prepare their animal in advance of the show. The committee also incorporated a third element to the evening for attendees which involved a demo hosted by Tennyson Egar from Irish Hereford Prime all about beef carcase traits including weights and conformation, cuts of beef and a brief about the new CBV value and DBI index.

Congratulations to all exhibitors during the evening – it is very special to see young breeders rise through the ranks and improve on their skills and talents both in the show ring and in show preparation. A special well done to to the Senior group also who were asked to speak to the audience about the animal they were showing and their preparations in advance of the show and each did so with great confidence and enthusiasm.

Congratulations to all exhibitors & many thanks to all who got involved!


Junior Young Handlers:
1st: Aveen Curtin, Cork
2nd: Adrianna Egar, Kildare
3rd: Daire O’Reilly, Leitrim

Judge Edward Dudley with Junior Young Hander Aveen Curtin
Judge Edward Dudley, Daire O’Reilly, Scott Jones, Isabella Dagg, Siun Canty, Noah O’Rourke, Aodhain Kilrane, Alice Appelbe, Adrianna Egar, Aveen Curtin & Sinead Conry


Intermediate Young Handlers:
1st: Liam O’Reilly, Leitrim
2nd: Aine Heffernan, Meath
3rd: Conor O’Rourke, Limerick

Judge Edward Dudley & Intermediate Young Handler Liam O’Reilly
Sinead Conry, Clodagh Kilrane, Alan Minehan, Cillian Daly, Conor O’Rourke, Michael Barrett, Lara Heffernan, Aine Heffernan, Catherine Smyth, Liam O’Reilly, Eoin Lynch, Alannah Daly, Judge Edward Dudley & Louise Callan


Senior Young Handlers:
1st: Elisa Drumm, Meath
2nd: Paul Bohan, Leitrim
3rd: John O’Dwyer, Tipperary

Judge Edward Dudley & Senior Young Handler Elisa Drumm
Catherine Smyth, Liam O’ Dwyer, Tara Drumm, John O’Dwyer, Elisa Drumm, Clodagh McCaffrey, Paul Bohan & Judge Edward Dudley

Many Thanks!
Thank you to all the volunteers & organisers, to GVM Tullamore for facilitating the event, to John Lynch for stewarding on the evening, to Willie McElroy for taking the photos, the judge: Mr. Edward Dudley, to Tennyson Egar from Irish Hereford Prime, to all the exhibitors who attended, to all the spectators and to the Next Gen Herefords Committee for all their work behind the scenes in making this youth event happen successfully; Sinead Conry, Catherine Smyth, Michael Barrett & Eoin Lynch!