Crowds thronged through Central Auctions, Roscrea, on Monday, as the Irish Limousin Cattle Society's premier show and sale took centre stage.

The event saw a tremendous display of quality cattle, with 53 Limousin bulls and 11 heifers presented from all over Ireland.

Proceedings kicked off with the show classes under the experienced eye of Derek Frew of the noted Frewstown herd in Co Antrim.

Overall, trade was rocking from start to finish, as nine animals sold for €10,000 or more, with prices peaking at €16,800 for the bulls and €14,600 for the heifers.

Three bulls were acquired by UK-based customers as George Candler officiated from the rostrum.

A top price of €16,800 was paid for Ravanny Vertigo, which was tapped out as senior male champion.

This April 2024-born bull is a son of the renowned Telfers Munster and was bred in Co Monaghan by Joseph Butler.

Boasting an array of five-star ratings and double-F94L status, Vertigo's pedigree traces back to Derrygullinane Kingbull and Ampertaine Foreman on his dam’s side. With sustained bidding, this outstanding bull was eventually acquired by a Cavan-based customer.

Standing as reserve senior champion was Noel Fennessy’s March 2024-born bull Wood Road Vernon ET.

No stranger to show ring success, he was overall male champion at this year's national show in Tullamore.

A son of Ampertaine Elgin and the prolific Wilodge Vantastic daughter Wood Road Jacinta ET, Vernon carries one copy each of the F94L and Q204X genes and was acquired by a Welsh-based herd for €15,000.

Ernevalley team

The formidable father-and-son team of Eddie and Ben Lynch from Loughduff, Co Cavan, presented five promising young bulls from their prestigious Ernevalley herd, which dominated the junior section.

Their exceptional pen of bulls secured the junior and reserve junior male championships.

Topping the trade for the Ernevalley team was the junior champion Ernevalley Viking, which sold for €12,600.

The 13-month-old Viking is sired by Tomschoice Lexicon and is out of the homebred Ampertaine Majestic daughter Ernevalley Superstition ET.

Boasting five-star ratings across many traits, as well as copies of both the F94L and Q204X genes, he was successfully acquired by a Co Kildare-based purchaser.

A bid of €12,200 secured Faughill Valentine for a Cavan-based farmer.

Valentine, a stylish third-prizewinner, was bred by Charlie Clancy from Co Leitrim and is a son of the highly regarded Plumtree Fantastic out of the Kaprico Eravelle daughter Faughill Kash.

He also boasted an impressive array of indexes and a copy of both the F94L and Q204X genes.

Godolphin son

Heading to Wales at €11,600 was the second-prizewinner Clontown V Baby Guinness from the herd of Stephen Treanor, Scotstown, Co Monaghan.

A son of Mereside Godolphin, with Ampertaine Gigolo and Gerrygullinane Glen in his back pedigree, this August 2024-born bull's dam Clontown Rudy was reserve female champion at Tullamore Show in 2022.

The esteemed Cavelands herd of Paul and Mary Sykes, Ballyhaunis, had a rewarding trip to Roscrea with their three young bulls.

Topping their consignment was Cavelands Volvo, an April 2024-born son of Brackan Ruben and the Bananier daughter Caveland Lucy.

Volvo is a double F94L carrier and has five-star ratings across most traits. After a flurry of bids, he was acquired by a Kildare-based herd for €11,500.

The classy first-prizewinner Ernevalley Vernon from Eddie and Ben Lynch sold for €11,000.

Born in May 2024, Vernon is a son of the herd's stockbull Keltic Pader and will now reside on a suckler farm in Cavan.

Padraic and Ciaran Golden presented the classy Mereside Godolphin son Clew Bay Val, a May 2024-born bull which was awarded second prize in a strong class.

After a spirited run of bids, Val was knocked down to a Co Laois-based purchaser for €10,000.

Heifers

Topping the female trade was Carrickmore Upsydaisey ET at €14,600.

This two-year-old is a daughter of Sympa and the outstanding show cow Baileys Iceprincess.

Bred by John and Karl Connell in Co Meath, her full brother Carrickmore Schumacher ET sold for €30,000 in a private sale recently. She sold in-calf to Knock Msport to an Athlone-based bidder.

The champion female sash was awarded to Brookland Valerie, the youngest heifer on offer at just 12 months old.

Bred by John and Tom Hickey from Co Tipperary, she is a daughter of Knock Msport and the Elite Ice Cream-bred dam Brookland Nadine.

Valerie came to the ring with two copies of the F94L gene, accompanied by an abundance of stars and was acquired by a Northern Ireland breeder.

Pick up this week's Irish Farmers Journal to read all about it.