Four out of the five highest-priced cattle at the Irish Charolais Cattle Society national calf show and sale and elite heifer show and sale sold to UK buyers at the showgrounds in Carrick-on-Shannon on Saturday.
A total of 26 females changed hands on the day, with auctioneers Tom Cox and Rodney Windrum reporting an average of €7,535 for the heifers sold.
Trade was particularly strong for top-quality females, with a top price of €17,000 for the intermediate champion from the morning's national calf show Tubbernadur Aurora ET.
Bred and exhibited by Kieran Doddy from Co Sligo, this stylish October 2025-born heifer is a daughter of the former Royal Highland Show champion Jacquard, while her dam Tubbernadur Ohsha ET is French-bred on both sides, out of Heracles M.
Buyers from home and abroad competed hard for the sparky young heifer, with Claire Ferris from Co Down having the final call.
Show stopper
Achieving the second-highest price of €15,000 was one of the show stoppers of the year Cleavy A1, bred and exhibited by father and son Paudge and Brian Maguire.
The Leitrim men have enjoyed an incredible year with the Pottlereagh Mark daughter, winning breed championships at summer shows.
Out of Cleavy Rashford, a Clonoulty Andraemon daughter, she stood second to the sale topper in her class, before going on to claim the reserve intermediate championship.
Purchasing this October 2025-born heifer was Northern Ireland breeder Harry Heron.
Kieran Doddy had a remarkable day out, as he went on to sell his second offering Tubbernadur Beyonce ET for a staggering €12,600.
Just nine months old, this flashy young heifer is sired by the great CF52, going back to Goldstar Hugo and the aforementioned Tubbernadur Ohsha ET, making her a close relation to Kieran's sale leader.
A second-prizewinner in the pre-sale show, she was acquired by Offaly breeder Shane Larkin.
Elite heifers
Topping the trade in the elite heifer section at €11,000 were Limerick breeders Jerry and Kay O'Keeffe with Grangwood Vanity Fair, a rising two-year-old daughter of the popular French bull Ocean and the herd's successful donor cow Grangwood Jolly Holly, a Goldstar Echo daughter.
Certified in-calf to Orbi, she was knocked down to Moses Irwin from Co Tyrone.
Bull trade
Bite for bulls was not as strong, as just two young stock bulls found new homes on the day.
Leading the prices here at €9,600 was Larahill Alexander ET, a CF52-bred calf from the herd of John O'Connor in Co Westmeath.
Out of Ballydownan Maggie ET, a Balymyle Vagabond-bred cow, he is a maternal brother to the acclaimed show heifer Larahill Violet ET, the sale topper from last year's event.
Born in October 2025, he claimed the reserve intermediate championship that morning and will now join David Bothwell's long-established Killadeas herd in Co Fermanagh.
Calf show champion
Before the sale got under way, almost 200 calves went in front of judges Kevin Thomas and Will Owen, two highly experienced judges from the UK.
Establishing her place at the top of the pecking order - as she has done all year - was the incredible show heifer Shacon Adorable ET.
Exhibited by Shane Conlon from Co Monaghan, this powerhouse of a heifer came through as senior female calf champion before being tapped forward as supreme calf champion against all other champions.
Sired by the French sire Reglisse, her mother is the former national Charolais show champion Goldstar Sephora ET.