Owen O’Neill, Co Carlow
“I farm at the foot of Mount Leinster in Co Carlow, where, along with my wife Louise and daughter Sarah, we operate a suckler herd. I took over the family farm in 2001 from my father Michael and grew the suckler herd from then on. Today, we keep about 60-70 sucklers, mainly Limousin and Belgian Blue cows which we AI with predominantly Belgian Blue sires, and then run a pedigree Limousin bull and a homebred hybrid Limousin-cross Belgian Blue bull.
“My first taste of success at showing was winning at a weanling show and sale at Tullow Mart in 2004, with a homebred Charolais-cross heifer. She was bought by Sharon Rothwell, who later showed her at the Winter Fair in Carrick. I began showing cattle in 2007, with a homebred Charolais weanling bull.
“I soon realised how competitive showing really was. I sold him and bought a weanling heifer in Carrick in November 2007 and got the bug from it. I enjoy the anticipation and hope of getting on well at shows, especially with a homebred animal, which since then is usually the case. It’s not just about winning, it’s the camaraderie that comes with it.
“My first competitive venture to the Carrick Winter Fair was in 2009, which was an eye-opener, and it’s been an annual pilgrimage ever since.
“Although Carrick is a tough stage to compete on, we have had various successes there over the years. In 2011, we won a Belgian Blue calf class from 45 entrants with a homebred calf and got reserve champion. I also got reserve senior champion Belgian Blue with a heifer that year. I suppose 2016 was a very memorable year, when we topped the sale at €5,500 with a homebred Limousin-cross heifer calf, which was ably led in the ring by my niece, Niamh Roche, who showed with me from the very start. Niamh also had success in Carrick winning the young handlers in 2013. My daughter Sarah began showing in 2013 aged four and won the young handlers class in Carrick in 2023.
“Carrick is a great place to showcase your stock as you’re competing against the best stock in the country, and it’s a big achievement to come out on top. It’s also a good place to see how the progeny of different bulls are performing, this information helps me make breeding decisions for my own herd.
“There’s also a good buzz and craic all weekend, which in recent years has attracted a bigger crowd and more younger people are getting involved, which is great to see. This year I have four heifers entered for the second weekend, three Belgian Blues and one Limousin weanling heifer.
“My advice to any young person would be to get involved in the young stock person class, maybe help someone showing already and use their animal until you find the right one yourself. Also, never be afraid to ask advice or opinions from those who have been showing for years.
“While showing cattle can be good craic, there is a lot of work and time involved in preparing cattle with halter training, grooming, clipping, etc. Sarah enjoys it as much as I do and Louise looks after the stock at home. It’s a full family commitment and there’s no need for sleeping tablets on a Sunday night after a show.”
Shane O’Hara, Co Leitrim
“I am farming on our family at Gortnaskeagh, just about three miles outside Manorhamilton in Co Leitrim. We farm around 120 acres of lowland with access to commonage at home, with an out-farm rented at Carrowkeel in Sligo.
“We keep around 35 suckler cows, eight of which are pedigree Limousin, with the remainder being predominantly Limousine-cross with a few Simmental and Belgium blue-cross cows in the mix.
“In the past we brought all our bull calves through to finishing in an under 16-month-old bull beef system, but in the past year, with high weanling prices and demand from shippers for Limousin weanlings, we now sell our bull calves as weanlings in our local Manorhamilton Mart.
“Our heifer calves are sold as weanlings, with the better quality ones being sold at fatstock sales before Christmas and the remainder being sold in February or March the following year.
“We also keep a flock of about 120 Texel-cross ewes, with all lambs sold at Manorhamilton Mart. Alongside the farm, we also run an agricultural contracting business.
“I have just recently completed my Level 8 degree in agriculture at ATU Donegal, which I really enjoyed.
“I first began showing cattle at our local show and then at the Carrick Winter Fair in 2016. The thing I enjoy most about showing cattle is trying to breed the best animal that you can first and foremost, and to improve on that every year. I also really enjoy washing, clipping and preparing an animal for a show or sale, in order to ensure your animal is presented as well as they possibly can be, and you put your best foot forward, as the saying goes.
“It’s also lovely to sell a heifer locally or to someone you know in the hope that they breed well for that person and maybe see their progeny back at a sale in the future. I always like to show a calf at the Carrick Winter Fair, as you will see your calf tied in a yard with the best cattle in the country, this gives you a great insight into where you are at breeding-wise.
“Sometimes it can be hard to judge a heifer at home until you see her out on a day like that. I enjoy the great atmosphere around the place and you get to meet and chat with a lot of people. There always seems to be a great trade for the right cattle, with a huge number of buyers out for a good heifer.
“This year I have a young calf for the sale, she is a May 2025-born calf, out of a stock bull bred by Pat Bruan. She’s a full black heifer at around 320kg. I think she has the potential to make a great cow.”