A strong west of Ireland contingent made up the bulk of the entries at the Irish Angus Cattle Society's bull calf championships at Moate Show on Sunday 24 August.

In its first year, the championships were sponsored by Dunleavy Meats. Judge for the inaugural event was well-known cattle man Seamus Neary from Co Kilkenny.

Proceedings commenced in the morning with the young stockperson classes, which Kieran Ryan from Ballyhooly in Co Cork came through in pole position, with William Woods from Co Cavan in reserve.

Kicking off the championships was the juniors, where Ardivahan Buster claimed the first accolade of the day for Sinead Kenny from Co Westmeath.

This powerful March 2025-born calf is a son of Liscahill Lord Henry T510 and Millbawn Venus, a daughter of Sallowglen Jamie T771.

Steil success

Standing reserve to him in the junior class was the McCormacks from Co Roscommon with Steil Bed Head. Born in February 2025, he is a son of the UK AI sire Rawburn E Type and a homebred dam by former stock bull Ernehill Rum.

Intermediate bull calf champion, Clooncarne Atticus, shown by Gearoid Mulligan, with Tom Mulligan, Gerry Kilgallon, Irish Angus, Freda Kinnarney, ISA, Seamus Neary, judge, Ian Mulligan, Fiona Mulligan and Patrick Walsh, Dunleavy Meats. \ Tricia Kennedy

The Mulligan family from Dromod, Co Leitrim, claimed the red ribbons in the intermediate championship with Clooncarne Atticus.

This November 2024-born calf is a son of Progressive Genetics' HW Farghal T516 and a Clooncarne Frank-bred dam.

Atticus pipped Coneyisland Baron ET to the post, a January 2025-born calf sired by the legendary Tivanagh Baron.

Bred and exhibited by Niall and Brendan Regan from Co Roscommon, this young bull's mother is the Coneyisland Legend daughter Dillon Janelle, which also produced the 2024 Irish Angus all-Ireland champion Dillon Vancouver.

Bunlahy Avalanche ET, senior bull calf champion shown Aiden and David Reynolds, with Gerry Kilgallon, Irish Angus, judge Seamus Neary and Patrick Walsh, Dunleavy Meats. \ Tricia Kennedy

Clinching the senior bull calf championship were David, Aiden and Gerry Reynolds from Co Longford with Bunlahy Avalanche ET. A son of Carrigroe Mr Rebel, this October 2024-born bull is out of a homebred dam by Mogeely Joe.

HW Farghal

Pushing him all the way to claim reserve champion was Berrymount Aiden exhibited by William Foster from Co Cavan.

Another son of HW Farghal T516, his dam is a daughter of the easy-calving specialist Cornamuckla Lord Hardy.

Overall female champion, Clooncarne Winnie, shown by Fiona and Tom Mulligan with Gerry Kilgallon, Irish Angus, and judge Seamus Neary. \ Tricia Kennedy

Female champion

Lifting the overall female Angus championship was Clooncarne Winnie shown by the Mulligan family from Co Leitrim.

This HW Farghal daughter is a full sister to the intermediate bull calf champion Clooncarne Atticus.

The rising two-year-old capped off a brilliant day for the Dromod-based herd, as she was awarded the overall interbreed champion of the show.

The reserve Angus female champion went the way of Conor Craig from Co Longford with Millbawn Autumn Star, a November 2024-born daughter of Intelagri Matteo ET going back to a HF Alcatraz-bred cow.

Read all about it in this week's Irish Farmers Journal.