Kilkenny annual multi breed bull sale was held on 10^th May 2023.

There were 25 bulls catalogued for sale but only 12 presented on the day – a sign of continued demand for Hereford bulls off farm nationwide. The sale was a flyer to finish the season in Kilkenny with the average price coming in at €3,490 and 10 out of the 12 bulls presented for sale being sold on the day.

The sale topper was lot 64 – Cave Hill George 3 by Padraig Farrell who earned €4,100. This October 2021 born bull was sired by Trillick George and bred from Cave Hill Germoine, a Kilsunny Goliath dam.

The joint second top price for the day was €3,800. Boveen Vince by Joe O’Connor, Offaly, was sired by Caislean Jake and bred from a Freetown Nadal dam. Vince has four stars for the terminal index and carcase conformation along with an easy calving figure of 1.1%. Vince sold for €3,800.

Lot 69 – Knockduffpoll 1 Ladman by Mairead Curtis & Michael Jones, Wexford, also sold for €3,800. This January 2022 born bull was sired by Duibhgiolla Lad and bred from Knockduffpoll 1 Tuilip Et, a Rathcor Ranger daughter.

The next top price of the day was awarded to lot 65 – Mountwilliams Pirate, by Aidan Farrell, Westmeath. Pirate, born October 2021, was sired by Cill Cormaic Marvel and bred from a Kilsunny Goliath dam. Pirate has four stars for the terminal index and carcase weight.

Another Caislean Jake also sold well – Moyclare Upton by Michael Molloy, Offaly, sold for €3,600. Also bred from a Free Town Nadal dam, Upton has four stars for the terminal index, five stars for carcase weight, a very easy calving figure of 1.4% and is also tested free from Hypotrichosis.

John Farrell of Boyanna and Pike Herefords, Westmeath, had a successful days trading when he sold two bulls for €3,500. The first lot was polled bull Pike 1 Eriksen, sired by Solpoll 1 Lawman and bred from Pike 1 Tess, a Glaslough Esquire dam. This June 2021 bull has five stars for both the terminal and the replacement index.  

Boyanna Ashton, fully horned bull by John Farrell also sold for €3,500. This January bull was sired by Boyanna Storm 1^st and bred from a Bowmont Storm dam.

The final Hereford show & sale was held in Nenagh on Thursday 18^th May and was a great success to round off the year with just three of the 24 bulls presented for sale going home again. The sale average stopped at €3,300 and the top price earned was the fantastic €5,100. Over 60% of the bulls sold for over €3,000 on the day also.

The star of the show was Dromona Oscar by Maurice Geary, Limerick. The Geary’s have had a very successful season after selling two bulls in the Nenagh April sale including the second best price of the day – €6,100 for Dromona Paddy and €3,400 for Dromona Ned also. Dromona Oscar, an August 2021 bull was sired by Allowdale Rambo 738 and bred from Dromona Prettymaid 893 – an F.H. William dam. With five stars for the replacement index, milk, carcase weight and conformation – it is no surprise this August bull was appealing and purchased by a Pedigree Hereford breeder from Westmeath for €5,100.

The judge for the show was Mr. Tommy Cregan of Tullaha Herefords, Limerick. Tommy is no stranger to the show ring with at both showing and judging. Tommy chose the West Cork bull; Gurtaleen Inchvale Joker as his Champion for the day. This November 2021 bull was sired Pulham Powerhouse and bred from a Moyclare Phoenix dam. Joker has four stars for the terminal index and five stars for carcase weight and conformation along with a DBI value of €94. Breeders, Michael & JJ Barrett, Cork, sold Joker to Donegal for €4,100.

Reserve Champion and joint second top price on the day was awarded to Ardmulchan Trailblazer by Phil & Catherine Smyth, Meath. This January bull was Reserve Champion bull calf at Longford show during 2022. Trailblazer was sired by Ballinveney Tiger and bred from a Grianan Emperor dam. With five stars for the terminal index and four stars for the replacement index – trailblazer was purchased by a breeder from Offaly for €4,300.

Joint second top price of €4,300 was earned by Kye Bruce 974, by Padraig McGrath, Roscommon. Bruce, born March 2022, was sired by Pulham Ranger and bred from a Freetown Hotspur dam, has five stars for the terminal index and carcase weight along with an excellent DBI value of €120. Bruce was snapped up by fellow Hereford breeder, Brian Stanley from Laois.

Local breeder, Willie Duff, also sold on the day when he exhibited Ballinlickpoll 1 Harvey & sold for €4,000. A Normanton 1 Laertes son and bred from a Trillick Hotspur dam, this heterozygous polled bull has four stars for the replacement index, four stars for the terminal index and a DBI value of €94.

Monaghan breeder Nigel Heatrick sold his two lots during the sale including Glaslough Zed for €3,900. Zed was sired by Cill Cormaic Quinlan and bred from Glaslough Ulyssess, a Clooncullane Major daughter.

The sale kicked off on a great note when the first two bulls into the ring sold for €3,500. Lot two – Carrabane Captain by Tom McDermott, Roscommon, was sired by Ballinveney United 2 and bred from a Carrabane Starman dam. Captain has five stars for the terminal index, carcase weight, carcase conformation and an easy calving figure of 1.8%.

The second bull into the ring – lot five – Skehanore Honour also sold for €3,500. Honour was sired by Freetown Peerless – the National Hereford Champion 2021 and bred from a Balleen Pip dam. He has a DBI value of €97.

A further two bulls sold for €3,500:

Lot 30 by William Kenny & TJ Phelan, Laois was Finnan Joe. Joe, born in February 2022, was sired by Allowdale Rory 594 and bred from a Cill Cormaic Kasper dam. Joe has a page of stars with five stars for both the replacement and the terminal index and a DBI value of €107.

The next lot into the ring – Broughall Peadar by Liam Feighery, Offaly sold to Galway for €3,500. Peadar was sired by Broughall Nick and bred from a Gageboro Morgan dam. This march 2022 bull has five stars for the replacement index and milk.

The society wish to congratulate all breeders on a great sale and also on a great season of selling bulls all round.

Many thanks are extended to the show judge, Tommy Cregan, Sale auctioneer, Mr. Eamonn Gaffney, the staff of Central Auctions Nenagh and Irish Hereford Prime for their continued sponsorship.

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.

The annual Spring Hereford show & sale was held in Kilmallock on Friday 14^th April. The weather picked up and so did the trade with every bull sold in the year except one and the average price for the sale finishing up at €3,200.

The day kicked off at 11am with the show where Mr. Michael Barrett of Gurtaleen Herefords, Co. Cork took on the task of judging. There were five classes to judge but this didn’t deter the Cork man and soon he chose his Champion of the day; Clondrinapoll 1 1375^th, by Gerard & Declan Donnelly, Clare. This August 2021 bull was sired by Cill Cormaic Perseus and bred from a Solpoll 1 Lawman daughter. He has four stars for the replacement index, and five stars for milk. Clondrinapoll 1 1375^th went on to top the sale when he sold for €5,100.

The Donnelly’s sold their second lot for the day; Clondrinapoll 1 1371^st for €4,100 after placing first in class during the show. This October 2021 bull was sired by Fabb 1 Northern Star and bred from a Balleen Gilbert dam. Along with having a DBI value of €97, he has four stars for both the replacement and the terminal index.

Clondrina’s genetics continued to shine throughout the sale. Michael Barrett awarded Reserve Champion to Tommy & Maura Cregan’s Tullaha Finnian. This June 2021 bull was sired by Rossmore Nelson Mandela and bred from a Clondrina 1069^th dam. With four stars for the terminal index and carcase conformation – Finnian sold to Kerry for €3,700.

The second top price of the day was awarded to Glaslough Yorkie, by Nigel Heatrick, Monaghan. Yorkie was sired by Cill Cormaic Quinlan and subsequently bred from a Clondrina 1110^th daughter. The fully horned four-star terminal bull with a DBI value of €104 was purchased for €5,000.

Nigel was happy to go home to Monaghan with an empty trailer when he sold his second for €3,200 – Glaslough Zeb. Zeb was sired by Airhill Raffael and bred from a Ballyaville Ger dam.

The next top price of the sale was €4,400 for Trillick Boxer 2, by JJ Farrell, Longford. Boxer was sired by Pulham Ranger and bred from a Glaslough Rooney dam. Boxer has five stars for the terminal index, carcase weight and carcase conformation along with an easy calving figure of 1.7%.

Moyclare Upbeat, by Michael Molloy, Offaly, lived upto his name when he was sold to a Limerick farmer for €4,200. Upbeat, sired by Caislean Jake and bred from a Ballinalick Ledger dam, has five stars for the terminal index and carcase weight, easy calving figure of 1.7% and a DBI value of €110. Moyclare Herefords have proven to be sought after thus far throughout the Hereford Spring sales with three bulls averaging €5,000.

Kye Paddy 958 matched Upbeat when he sold for €4,100. Bred by Padraig McGrath, Roscommon, Paddy 958 was sired by Free Town Nevada and bred from a Free Town Hotspur dam. Paddy also has five stars for the terminal index and carcase weight and a DBI value of €90. Kye Herefords parted with three bulls which averaged €3,300.

Fortregal Billy, by Gerard & Sheila Lucey also did his job during the sale when he sold for €3,800. Billy was sired by Allowdale Rambo 475 and bred from Coisceam Imelda, a Lisnalurg Celtic daughter. This full horned bull has a page of stars with five stars for both the replacement and terminal index along with five stars for both carcase weight and milk.

Another bull selling for €3,800 during the sale was Bonleapoll 1 Don Juan, by Peter Cooke, Tipperary. Don Juan who placed first in his class, was born in August 2021, was sired by Gouldingpoll 1 Superstar Et and bred from Glaslough Sara 2, another Clondrina 1110^th daughter. Don Juan also has a page of stars with five stars for the replacement index, terminal index, conformation, four stars for carcase weight, milk and a DBI value above average of €83.

Peter Cooke’s second lot for the day – Bonleapoll 1 Denisthemenace, sold for €3,600 to a Limerick farmer. This September 2021 born bull was also sired by Gouldingpoll 1 Superstar Et and bred from Udel 1 FR Lively Gem. This Homozygous polled bull has a super set of figures with five stars for both the replacement and terminal index, an easy calving figure of 1.8% and a DBI value of €88.

Another success of the sale was Heterozygous polled bull Awbegpoll 1 Ainsley by Adrian Curtin, Co. Cork. Born in July 2021, this Dernaroy 1 Oscar son was bred from Blueheather Cindy, a Kye Harry 686 dam. Ainsley has five stars for the replacement index and carcase conformation, four stars for the terminal index, carcase weight and milk along with a DBI value of €89. The hammer dropped for Ainsley at €3,700.

Many thanks are extended to the show judge, Michael Barrett, Sale auctioneer, Mr. Eamonn Gaffney, the staff of GVM Kilmallock and Irish Hereford Prime for their continued sponsorship.

The annual Hereford bull sale was held in Bandon mart on Wednesday 13^th April. The sale incorporated the added element of weighing all bulls on the morning of the sale when they’re being checked in.

The show was judged by the IHBS President, Mr. Adrian Bateman, as has been the tradition since the sale began. There were two classes for judging on the day and before long Adrian tapped out Butlerstown Quartz as the Champion – bred by local breeder Shane O’Driscoll. Quartz subsequently sold for the top price of the day at €3,400. Quartz, born in September 2021, was sired by Pulham Powerhouse and bred from a Balleen Plomber dam. Quartz has five stars for the Terminal index, carcase weight and a DBI value of €103. Ms. Beatrice Applebe presented the Frank Appelbe Cup to Shane on winning the Championship.

Reserve Champion was awarded to Hazel Grove Hugo by Dermot Whelton, Skibberean. Hugo was sired by Cill Cormaic Kasper and bred from a Gageboro dam. Hugo has four stars for the replacement rate and carcase conformation and a DBI value of €104.

The joint top price of the day went to lot 13 – Dunworley Castle 205, by Jim Moloney and Mary Pat Dineen from Bandon also. This June 2021 bull was sired by Freetown Peerless, who also sired Skehanore Fruitful who is now standing in Dovea Genetics and proving very popular and successful already. Castle 205 was also bred from Skehanore Betsy E 966, a Balleen Pip dam. With five stars for both the replacement and terminal index, easy calving figures and a DBI value of €99 – this bull was purchased on the day for €3,400.

Another Freetown Peerless son also sold on the day – Skehanore Humorous by Tom and Paddy Hickey, Ballydehob. Humorous was bred from a Balleen Plomber dam and with five stars for the terminal index and carcase weight, four stars for the replacement index and a DBI value of €106 – this July 2021 born bull was sold for €2,850.

The first bull in the catalogue sold for €2,800 – Invernia Merlin by Edward Duggan, Macroom. This January 2021 bull was sired by Cill Cormaic Marvel and bred from Turlough Little Lass. Merlin has four stars for the replacement index, terminal index, carcase weight and five stars for milk and a DBI value of €101.

Edward Duggan’s second lot of the day – Invernia Dandy, sold for €2,650.

Another Pulham Powerhouse son was also auctioned during the sale – Droumdaniel Powerhouse, by Gene Lynch, Bantry. This August 2021 bull was bred from a Brocca Kieran dam. This bull has an excellent terminal evaluation with five stars for the terminal index, carcase weight, conformation and a DBI value of €108. A dairy farmer purchased powerhouse for €2,600.

Of the 17 bulls that presented for sale – nine bulls were sold and the average price for the nine bulls was €2,800.

Many thanks are extended to the show judge, Mr. Adrian Bateman, the sale auctioneer, the staff of Bandon mart and Irish Hereford Prime for their continued sponsorship.