Mr. John Johnston of Farney Herefords was awarded the National Hall of Fame Award in 2024 on behalf of the Irish Hereford Breed Society.
John farms in Toomevara with his wife Mary and daughter Rebecca with the Farney Hereford Herd being founded in 1963.
The foundation female for the pedigree herd was Knockfin 46th, bred by Tim Scott, Rathdowney. Her first heifer calf bred the champion bull in Thurles bull sales in 1970.
A further female was added to the herd in 1970, Ballyeachan Rosa 6th and her second calf was a heifer by Crown Lusty, who was leased by the Department of Agriculture for use in pedigree herds, and owned by John’s great friend, Bobby Powell of Blean Herefords. This heifer calf went on to breed bulls that sold to 600 guinneas at the famed Fitz’s bull sales in Limerick. Farney Duke was champion at Kilkenny bull sales in 1988 and was purchased by Bob Morris, Newtown, Co. Wexford.
John judged at many shows and sales over the years and is one of the most recognizable faces in the Hereford fraternity. One of his judging highlights was being asked to officiate at the Irish Hereford Premier Spring bull sale, then held in Roscommon, in the early 1990s – an occasion John still remembers with great pride.
Another key success for the Farney Herd in more recent times came in 2018 when Farney Osmondo was reserve Premier Hereford bull calf champion at Nenagh Show. This bull also stood top of his class at Cappamore, Limerick and Clonaslee shows and later sold for pedigree breeding to the well known Ballyaville Hereford herd in Co Offaly.
John is still showing cattle well into his 80s, having secured a rosette at the National Hereford Calf Show just last November with a homebred bull calf.
There was a 50% clearance rate at in Kilkenny on April 17th, as the demand for bulls nationwide continues to be influenced by the weather. With the top price obtained €3,600 and the average price of €2,813.
On that day, there were two sizable classes, with Michael Molloy serving as the judge. The first class consisted of bulls from April 2022 back to August 2022. The class winner was the youngest bull in the ring, Lot 100: Boveen Walt, bred by Joseph O’Connor. This bull’s success continued as he was given the Champion Hereford Bull on the day. This bull was sired by Bowmont Vancouver D103. This horned bull has 5 stars with both carcass weight at +14 kg and carcass confirmation. This bull was not sold on the day.
Champion: Boveen Walt with breeder Joe O’Connor & Judge Michael Molloy
The eldest bull in the group won the prize in the mornings second class. Lot 101: John Jones, Clonroe Luck. A September 2022 born bull, sired by Beaghmore Hans. This bull achieves an impressive star display, obtaining four stars for both the replacement and terminal indexes. Following four stars carcass weight of +6.8 kg, carcass confirmation and daughter calving interval. To conclude with a high daughter milk of 5 stars. The Jones family’s good fortune continued when Clonroe Luck was awarded the title of Reserve Champion Hereford Bull on the day. Additionally, this bull topped the sale with € 3,600 in the ring.
Clonroe Luck sold for €3,600, with breeder Denis Jones, Judge Michael Molloy & breeder Aidan Jones
A total of six bulls were sold exceeding the price of €3,000. Lot 87: Listrolin Chief, bred by Patrick Rohan, made €3,100 in the ring. This May 2022 horned bull, is four stars for terminal and Carcass weight of 6.7 kg. This locally bred animal was sired by Balleen App.
Lot 91: Corstown 1 Major 3321, bred by Pat Murphy sold for €3,000.
Lot 93: Mountwilliams Romeo, bred by Aidan Farrell sold for €3,000.
Lot 94: Clonroe Legend, bred by John Jones sold for €3,000.
Lot 97: Corstown 1 Prophet 3334, bred by Pat Murphy sold for €3,000.
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.
The annual Hereford show & Sale was held in Cork Co-op mart in Bandon on Wednesday 17th April. There were 21 bulls presented for sale following 28 being catalogued for entry. There was 60% clearance on the day and top price from the sale was €4,400 with the average price finishing at €3,300. The judge on the day was, as is tradition, the IHBS President: John Boddy, Leitrim. John travelled a long journey and took his role very seriously and handled the decision making very carefully.
Champion Skehanore Joey with breeder Paddy Hickey, Judge & IHBS President John Boddy, Eric & Elizabeth Applebe presenting the Frank Appelbe cup & Willie Mullins, local Council.
John tapped out Lot 12 as his choice of Champion on the day – Skehanore Joey by Tom & Paddy Hickey, Ballydehob. This July 2022 bull, is a son of Free Town Peerless and bred from a Kingsgrove Storm 2nd dam. Joey has five stars for the Terminal Index, an easy calving figure on beef cows of 2%, +9.9kg for carcass weight, €102 DBI and 4% for Dairy cow calving. Joey went on to sell for the second top price of €4,300.
John’s choice of Reserve Champion was the youngest bull in the sale – Droumdaniel Christopher by Gene Lynch, Bantry. Christopher is a December 2022 bull who was sired by Allowdale Kingpin 817 and bred from an Allowdale Exceller dam – Droumdaniel Delia 12th. Christopher has four stars for the Replacement Index, Five stars for the Terminal Inde and +18.8kgs for Carcass Weight.
Reserve Champion Droumdaniel Christopher with breeder Clodagh Lynch
The sale topper was lot 7 – Hazel Grovepoll 1 Indiana by Dermot Whelton, Leap, who was purchased for €4,400. Indiana is a May 2022 bull who is sired by Hazel Grove Ginger – a Gageboro Morgan son and bred from a Panmure 1 Henry dam. This Heterozygous polled bull has four stars for both the Replacement and the Terminal index and a DBI value of €104.
Sale Topper Hazel Grovepoll 1 Indiana with breeder Dermot Whelton
Many Congratulations are extended to Philip Daunt on winning the West Cork Hereford Branch raffle and selecting Appel 1 Justice as his stock bull for the season! Many thanks to all who purchased tickets for the raffle. Thanks also to Irish Hereford Prime who kindly supported the sale but giving back €200 to the buyer of any bull purchased for €3,200 and over but who also gave €100 back to the buyer of any bull who purchased a ticket for the raffle.
Appel 1 Justice with breeders John, Eric & Elizabeth Appelbe, Tennyson Egar from Irish Hereford Prime and Judge & IHBS President John Boddy
The Hickey family sold their further two lots in the sale also. Lot 23 – Skehanore Jackpot was sold for €3,300. Another Free Town Peerless son, Jackpot is bred from an Allowdale Exceller dam. Jackpot has four stars for the Terminal Index and is +11.2kgs for Carcass Weight- nearly double the breed average.
Skehanore Jackpot
Another Free Town Peerless son; Skehanore Jubilant who was also sold on the day for €3,300 leaving the Hickey family returning to Ballydehob with an empty trailer. Jubilant is bred from a Balleen Plomber dam and has Four stars for the Replacement Index and Five stars for the Terminal Index along with an easy calving figure of 3.7% for dairy cow calving.
Skehanore Jubilant
There were three bulls sold on the day for €3,200 including:
Lot 16 – Clydapoll 1 Bert by John Cronin, Mallow. Bert was born in August 2022, sired by Fisher 1 Profile and bred from a Fabb 1 Northern Star dam. This homozygous polled bull has a page of stars including five stars for both the Replacement & Terminal index along with a DBI value of €134 and an easy calving figure of 3.2%.
The Roycroft family sold three bulls on the day also. Two Springvilla bulls were sold for €3,200 each. Lot 19 – Springvilla Lester 1114, born in September 2022, was sire by Drumboy Jamie and bred from a Knockmountagh Super 2 dam.
Lot 20 – Springvillapoll 1 Lewis 1113, born in September 2022 also, was sired by Drumboy Jamie also and bred from a Corlismore Fire 606 dam. This bull has very easy calving figures including 1.7% for beef cow and 4.9% for beef heifer.
Many thanks are extended to the show judge, John Boddy (IHBS President), Sale auctioneer, the staff of Bandon mart, all stewards on the day and Irish Hereford Prime for their continued sponsorship.
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:
Finalists requested to attend the National Hereford Calf show 2024 in GVM Tullamore.
Make presentation at the IHBS AGM in March 2025
Video/s interviews of winners on their farm/s or all on one farm.
Attend one workshop day in 2025
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. 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.
Irish Hereford Breed Society Ltd 