Crowds once again flocked to Strokestown Show which this year celebrated its 151st show. Continuing with tradition, the show again played host to the pinnacle of the Irish Angus calendar, the all-Ireland finals. In total, 140 Irish Angus animals were entered, making it the biggest show of Angus cattle in the country.

Clare native Aidan Moloney was charged with judging stock at the show and after just shy of six hours of judging, he found his champion in the form of Ashtown Katie. This four-year-old cow was brought out by Michael and Niamh Barron and ably exhibited by Niall Faughnan.

No stranger to success

No stranger to success, this young cow claimed championships at a number of shows as a heifer two years ago and claimed first prize at last year’s all-Irelands. Sired by Goulding Jumbo King, Katie was shown alongside her February-born Mogeely Joe-sired bull calf. Commenting on his champion, Moloney said: “This is the type of animal we’d all like to have in our fields. She carries all the traits you want in a cow and she’s rearing a good calf. She had me the minute she walked in the ring.”

Claiming the title of junior male champion and reserve overall champion was Shane McKiernan’s Drumcarbin Nutcracker. This young September 2016-born bull was sired by Retties JFK and out of homebred dam Drumcarbin Kim. Nutcracker did one better than his last outing where he was awarded the reserve senior Aldi ABP all-Ireland calf championship in Iverk.

Having a day to remember on his first time at Strokestown Show was Cork breeder Michael Dullea. He made the near six-hour journey to the showground worthwhile, claiming two first prizes with his only two exhibits.

Not stopping there, he went on to claim the overall junior female title with his January-born Carrigroe Polly. This heifer was originally bred by John Appelbe, but was purchased by Michael at a young age. Sired by Rathosheen Hugo, he is out of Cashelane Bowie-bred daughter Carrigroe Viv.

John Appelbe was also is the rosettes as well, as his September 2017 bull calf was second in the class to the reserve overall champion and later picked up the title of reserve junior bull. This one was also sired by the Appelbe stock bull Rathosheen Hugo and secured the overall Aldi bull calf all-Ireland two weeks previously in Iverk.

Junior championships

Finishing off the junior championships was Dermot Kilcrann, Roscommon, with Lodgetown Poppy. This stylish March 2017 calf came out in front of the young heifer class before being tapped forward as the reserve junior female champion. Sired by Bunlahy John G, she is out of a Clooncolligan Domino-bred dam.

Clinching the senior male championship was Owenmore Nick, who was bred by Anthony Scanlon and exhibited by Bernard Kerins. This April 2016 bull is out of homebred Owenmore Kit and has being shown successfully throughout the country since a young calf.

The reserve senior male championship went the way of Kevin Diffley with Clooncolligan Nemo. This March 2016 homebred bull was sired by Brideswell Kevin and out of Highway Useful.

The last championship of the day was the reserve senior female, which was secured by Joseph and Michael Moran, Co Kilkenny, with Powerstown Molly. This two-year-old heifer has been shown successfully all summer, winning championships at a number of local shows. Sired by former Tullamore champion Drumcrow Piping Hot, Molly is out of homebred dam Powerstown Kelly.