Over 120 bulls and heifers were catalogued for the Irish Simmental Premier Show and Sale, which took place at Roscommon Mart on Saturday.
A large turnout of home and overseas buyers drove a spectacular heifer trade and indeed one of the strongest ever witnessed at the event, as 98% of the heifers sold to an average price of €5,717, down slightly on the exceptional 2025 figure of €5,998.
The female section included drafts from both the Clonagh and Coose herds for Garrett Behan and John and Ronan Tuohy respectively, as well as the regular entries.
Topping the trade at €24,000 was Coose Saphire P, consigned as part of the Tuohy family's draft.
Sired by the €15,600 Coose Prague P and out of the Curaheen Cochise P dam Coose Natasha, this August 2024-born heifer came with a milk figure of 11.6kg and was purchased by the noted Harestone pedigree herd in Scotland.
Two at €14,000
The price tag of €14,000 was achieved twice. First up was the yearling heifer champion Marsha Tara ET, exhibited by Michael and Martin Glennon from Co Roscommon.
Just 13 months old, this Curaheen Evolution daughter is out of the Suir Danny-bred cow Suir Gladys.
Boasting a massive carcase weight figure of 35.1kg and a five-star terminal index of €115, she will join the Popes Simmental herd in England.
Matching her at the same money was Coose Sheistheone ET for the Tuohy family.
Sired by Denizes Monty and out of the prolific Monaduff Lord dam Curaheen Angel ET, this 22-month-old heifer was purchased by James Alexander, Co Antrim.
She also packed some big terminal numbers, sitting in the top 20% of the breed for terminal and dairy-beef traits.
Selling at €13,500 was Coose Tipsy P, again for the Tuohy family.
Sired by the impressive Coose Lincoln ET and out of the Curaheen Evolution dam Coose Patricia P, this September 2025-born heifer was purchased by Gerry Neenan for his Fearna herd.
Ranking in the top 10% of the breed for terminal, she displayed a carcase weight figure of 32.2kg.
Tiger Gallant daughter
Hitting the €11,400 mark was Clonagh Trixie Explorer, brought out as part of the Clonagh draft by Garrett and Lyndsey Behan in Co Laois.
Sired by Clonagh Tiger Gallant and out of Clonagh Pandora Explorer ET, a Kilbride Farm Dragoon daughter going back to the great Clonagh Dora The Explorer, this 11-month-old heifer was purchased by the Weatherup family for their Lisglass herd in Co Antrim.
A bid of €9,000 then secured Coose Temptress P for Declan Callan in Co Monaghan. Born in June 2025 and brought out by the Tuohys, she is a daughter of Coose Nabraska P, going back to Coose Lolipop P ET.
Ballyk Tiny Tiffany ET, sired by Woodhall Ferrari 14, was next in line at €8,600.
Bred from the Glebefarm Tyson daughter Fearna Ko Ko ET, this February 2025-born heifer was bred and exhibited by Westmeath breeders Marie and Walter Walsh.
In-calf to Ballyk Top Notch P, she was acquired by Ross McArdle.
The Behan duo was back in action once again with Clonagh Tia Fabby, Clonagh Temptation and Clonagh Trixie K all trading at €8,400.
Tia Fabby is a Manor Park Hansome 16 daughter, while Clonagh Temptation is sired by the former national show champion Clonagh Legal Eagle, with Clonagh Trixie K being a Coltfield Murry daughter.
Standout bull
On the bull side of the house, trade was tough, with many bulls leaving the ring unsold having failed to meet their reserve.
On a positive note, there was some bite for the real top-end lots, with a top price of €22,000 paid for the junior champion bull Ballycarra Tyson ET.
Exhibited by Jamie Reape from Co Mayo, this August 2025-born bull was arguably the standout bull of the year, standing as overall male champion at the FBD National Livestock Show in Tullamore.
Remarkably, his sire Curaheen Warrior was born in 2008, while his dam, Hillcrest Jacintha, was born in 1998, a stark reminder to everyone that old genetics can still compete with the best today.
As his pedigree would suggest, Tyson did not qualify for the SCEP, carrying just a two-star replacement index of €107 and a three-star terminal index of €78 within breed.
Purchasing this fantastic young bull was John Moore from Omagh in Co Tyrone for his Omorga pedigree herd.
His stablemate Ballycarra Trojan pushed him all the way to claim the reserve junior title for Jamie Reape.
This October 2025-born Rathlee Pirate son is out of the Ballinlare Farm Galaxy dam Ballycarra Lola. Sean Burns, Newry, Co Down, was the buyer here at €4,400.
Senior male champion Clonagh Tenacios Murry earlier hit the market at €8,500, selling to Seamus O'Kane from Co Derry.
Exhibited by Garrett Behan, this March 2025-born bull is sired by Colfield Murry and out of the Kilbride Farm Dragoon dam Clonagh Jessie Girl.
Overall, the average price for bulls was €6,400, which was down €460 on the 2025 sale, with a 36% clearance rate.