Prices ranged from €2,000 to €4,300 at the recent Irish Limousin Cattle Society sale in Tullamore Mart, which saw 68% of the animals forward sell to average slightly over €3,000. While the clearance was lower than would have been liked, the average was 20% higher than the equivalent sale last year.

Tom Finnerty of the Bovinion Limousin herd in Mountbellew, Co Galway, was the judge and he found his champion in the form of Stragheglin Kieran.

Bred by Cavan-based Ciaran Bogue, this August 2015-born son of Haltcliffe Dancer is out homebred Scarboro. Boasting five stars down the line, the judge’s decision was backed in the ring when Kieran sold for the top price of €4,300 to George Flynn, Oldcastle, Co Meath.

Claiming the reserve championship was Ampertaine Foreman son Millburn Kauto Star. Bred and exhibited by Richard O’Beirne, Tuam, Co Galway, the multi-starred bull found a home at €4,000 with local farmer Derek Hall, Tullamore.

Listowel breeder Sarah McElligott received the joint second-highest price of €4,100 for her third-prize winner Shannon Kelly 2. Sired by French bull Dieunordic, Kelly 2 boasts stars down the line and found a new home with Michael Colleran, Athlone, Co Westmeath.

Also selling at €4,100 was Alan Borton’s second-prize winner Brookfield Kobe. Born December 2015, Kobe is a son of Wilodge Drummer and out of a Wilodge Cerberus daughter. After a flurry of bids, he was eventually knocked down to Gerard Carolan, Athboy, Co Meath.

The Corridan family from Fedamore, Co Limerick, presented five bulls from their well-known Roundhill herd. Top call for the family was €3,250 for Roundhill Kickstart Et. Kickstart is an embryo son of polled sire Hinz P and Roundhill I Unamine 1440, an Elite Forever Brill Et daughter. He was snapped up by Mullingar-based Robert Lestrange.

The only Bavardage son offered at this sale commanded a price of €3,150. Coolroe Killian was bred by Eamonn Fitzgerald, Cahir, Co Tipperary, and was acquired by John Jones, Rathmore, Co Longford.

Michael McTigue, Castlebar, Co Mayo, took home €3,100 for his August 2015-born Heather Field King. This son of Ampertaine Commander carried five-star ratings across all traits and was purchased by Arthur Bryan, Portarlington, Co Laois.

Two bulls hit the €3,000 mark. First at the money was the first-prize winning Elderberry Galahad son Farmleigh Kirby. Bred by Thomas Swaine, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, he was acquired by Vincent Carr, Hollyford, Co Tipperary.

Second at the money was Ronick Hawk son Roundhill Korridan. Another from the Corridan family, Fedamore, this 16-month-old bull was purchased by Jerry Casey, Mallow, Co Cork.