The IHBS report another terrific sale for Herefords at Nenagh following on a very good outing at Kilkenny just a few days ago. The sale held on a day of brilliant sunshine saw a range of prices from €4,500 to €2,200. The crowd somewhat smaller than usual were intent on purchasing and taking a bull home. Great grass growth in recent days together with the start of the breeding season has injected a further sense of urgency in the sales. Numbers of Hereford bulls are tightening as sales on farm and at the marts continue apace.

Trillick Tyson proved to have the knockout punch when bidding stopped at €4,500 to secure the top price of the day for well-known Longford breeder JJ Farrell. This son of his UK bred stockbull Freetown Hotspur is out of Trillick Sally and was purchased by Connor Lynch who travelled all the way from Dundalk in Co Louth. A further son of Hotspur exhibited by Mr Farrell, Trillick Niall out of Trillick Linda was bought as a herd sire by Hereford breeder Richard Wallace, Crettyard, Carlow at €3,700 to average €4,100 for the two bulls exhibited.

Ballyheigue, Co Kerry breeder Kieran Harty and son Stephen exhibited Ocean Richard. A second prize-winner sired by Dovea AI sire Glaslough Esquire out of Ocean Special Flora he was purchased by Portumna dairy farmer John Heagney at €3,750.

Glaslough Nero was shown by Sam and Nigel Heatrick, Glaslough, Co Monaghan who were well satisfied with the €3,700 achieved. This November born bull is by herd sire Cill Cormaic Isaac out of the homebred dam Glaslough Karen. He was purchased by Pat O’Donoghue, Mallow, Co Cork.

The championship was awarded to Moyclare Magnificent a bull from Michael Molloy, Belmont, Co Offaly. Mr Molloy has had a very successful year to date winning several championships and achieving top prices at various venues. Magnificent is sired by his herd sire Brocca Saviour a Bowmont Storm A584 son bred by his neighbour Noel Farrell. Saviour was the number one Hereford sire on the ICBF December 2014 evaluations and is credited with much of the success recently achieved. The dam is Moyclare Rose 10th and the purchaser at €3,500 is well known, long-time Hereford breeder and Judge Tom Ludgate, Kilgubban, Mallow.

One to watch for in the future is young Hereford breeder and enthusiast Hugh P Murray of Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath who exhibited Newland Goss. This well turned out February born son of Castledaly Jeff was calf champion at Strokestown last summer, is out of Castledaly Bid and sold to Michael Mahon, Rathdowney, Co Laois when the hammer dropped at €3,400.

The Reserve Champion Ballinveney Pirate a very long Bowmont Storm A584 son was shown by Rory Farrell, Toomevara with the assistance of his show team, sons Daniel, Brian and Seamus. Out of Ballinveney Clodagh he was purchased at €3,350 by local man Matt Crowe, Templederry, Nenagh.

Grianan Nobleman from the herd of Tom and Anselm Fitzgerald, Mount Temple, Moate was sold at €3,300 to Michael Murphy of Newport, Co Tipperary. A further son of Bowmont Storm A584 one of the most successful sires imported from Australia by the Society and out of Grianan Dominique a top performing dam at the Grianan herd.

Hereford calf prices continue to be a source of discussion with further reports of outstanding prices achieved at Castleisland, Listowel, Kilmallock, Bandon, Skibbereen and Kilkenny. Quality assured stock for slaughter are urgently required if you have such stock available or will have in the weeks and months ahead please call 044/9348855 for further information on the best possible outlets for such stock. The Society’s next sale takes place at Kilmallock on Friday next April 24^th.

The final sale of the Spring took place in Nenagh on May 17^th 2014, the turnout was as can be expected for the last of the sales but people were still in high spirits on the day. There were prices ranging from €1,900 – €3,600, a fantastic clearance of 88% and an overall average €2,550 made on the day, keeping in target with the averages of all other sales throughout the past 3 months showing that even late in the Spring the Hereford Breed are always on top.

The Champion on the day went to a Bull from the herd of Davina and David Lewis from Glosterberg, Brosna, Birr, Co.Offaly. ‘Glosterberg 263’ is a son of Sire ‘ Kilsunny Goliath’ and Dam ‘Glosterberg 245^th’ and went for a great price of €2,800 to Mr. Nolan of Bridgetown, O’ Briens Bridge, Co. Clare, later that day in the sale.

The Reserve Champion went to WA & IH Jones of Creagh House, Keenagh, Co. Longford with their Bull ‘Creaghpoll 1 James’ another progeny of Sire ‘Kilsunny Goliath’ and Dam ‘Creaghpoll 1 Pauline’. The Jones’ had only one Bull entered on Saturday and received a price of €2,700 from Mr. Sean Hunt, Coole Ease, Athea, Co. Limerick, for their Reserve Champion in the sale ring.

Mr. Joe Deverell, Ballyaville, Geashill, Co. Offaly, had a great day as his Bull ‘Ballyaville Geordie’ went for the top price of the day at €3,600 and was sold to Mr. Michael Oxley from Clonfert, Maynooth, Co. Kildare. ‘Ballyaville Geordie’ is a son of Sire ‘Killeaney Pompeii’ and Dam ‘ Ballyaville Vita’. Along with his top price bull, Mr. Tony Ryan of Carrigal, Carrigatoher, Nenagh bought Mr. Deverell’s first prizewinning Bull ‘Ballyaville Gary’ for €2,800 giving him an overall average of €3,200 accumulated on the day.

Another top price on the day went to Mr. Patsy Smith of Tullyinchin Mountain Lodge, Cootehill, Co. Cavan with his Bull ‘Borin Dan’ a son of Sire ‘Corlismore Pompeii’ and Dam ‘Borin Winkle’. Mr. Smith’s bull was purchased by Mr. Kieran McCabe from Ballinamult, Co. Waterford for €2,850.

There was a great atmosphere at the sale and as the clearance was at a high percentage the final sale finished with a good result, congratulations to everybody who sold or bought on the day. The upcoming National Hereford Show will take place on Sunday the 10^th of August followed by the Autumn Sales in Tullamore on the 10^th of October and Kilmallock on the 24^th of October. More information about the Show and Sales will be posted on the website closer to the time. If you require any other information regarding Sales or Shows please contact our office on 044 93 48855 or email us on irishhereford@gmail.com .