Sixteen breed societies gathered in the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise, Co Laois, on Friday 3 February, where each breed society nominated one breeder or animal that they felt helped to best promote their respective breeds throughout 2022 at shows, sales and breed events.
The awards came on the back of a two-year COVID-19 break after the inaugural Irish Pedigree Breeders Council awards ceremony which took place in February 2020.
They were presented by Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, Martin Heydon, who addressed the ceremony ahead of the presentations. Minister Heydon commended all of those in attendance, thanking them for their commitment to the sector.
Award winners
The Irish Aberdeen Angus Association award was presented to Shane and John Murphy, Co Cork, for their supreme all-Ireland champion, Mercury Special Tinge.
The Irish Hereford society award was presented to Brian Duignan, Co Cavan, for his national Hereford champion, Shancorpoll 1 Uakea.
The Irish Shorthorn society chose the Flatley family from Co Mayo as the best breed promoters.
The Irish Parthenaise society selected Co Laois woman, Emma Holohan, as the best breed promoter.
The Irish Simmental cattle society’s award was presented to Garrett and Lyndsey Behan, Co Laois, for their national champion, Clonagh Majestic Trixie.
Back row, from left: Irish Pedigree Breeders Council chair Sean Sherman, Seamus Nolan, Brian Nolan, Michael Flatley, Garrett Behan, Kelly Stevenson, John and Shane Murphy, Colin Jackson, Alan William Hanbidge, Liam Murphy and Manus Murphy. Front row, from left: Oliver Flanagan, Brian Duignan, Sean Flannery, John O’Halloran, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon, John Commins, Larry Feeney (outgoing president of the Irish Pedigree Breeders Council), Declan Bell, Michael Flannagan and Denise O’Donovan at the Irish Pedigree Cattle Breeders awards in Portlaoise. \ Alf Harvey
Blonde d'Aquitane winner, John O’Halloran from Mulinahone, Co. Kilkenny is presented with the award by Martin Heydon TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Blonde Aquitane chairman Willie Fitzpatrick from Ballybrophy, Co. Laois at the Irish Pedigree Cattle Breeders awards in Portlaoise.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Irish Holstein Friesian Association winners, Liam, Sandra, Manus and Niamh Murphy from Cork are presented with their award by Martin Heydon TD and Irish Holstein Friesian chief executive Laurence Feeney. \ Alf Harvey
Irish Piedmontese Cattle Society winners, John and Sarah Commins from Tipperary are presented with their award by Martin Heydon and Irish Piedmontese chair Roger O’Halloran. \ Alf Harvey
Irish Angus Cattle Society winners, Michael and Oliver Flanagan from Athlone, are presented with their award by Martin Heydon and Irish Pedigree Breeders Council chair Sean Sherman. \ Alf Harvey
Irish Limousin Cattle Society winners, PJ McGrath and Kelly Stephenson from Wicklow, are presented with the award by Martin Heydon and Irish Limousin president Alan Kelly. \ Alf Harvey
Irish Charolais Cattle Society winners, Seamus and Brian Nolan from Firoda, Castlecomer, Co KIlkenny, are presented with their award by Martin Heydon and Irish Charolais secretary Nevin McKiernan at the Irish Pedigree Breeders Council awards in Portlaoise. \ Alf Harvey
The Irish Dexter society award was presented to Sean Flannery, Co Kildare, for his service to the breed.
The Irish Aubrac society presented its award to Colin Jackson, Co Wicklow for his cow, Cahergal Kate, who had the highest replacement, terminal and dairy beef index in the breed.
The Irish Belgian Blue society award was presented to Daniel O’Donovan, Co Cork, for Don Oreo who was unbeaten throughout the 2022 show season.
Salers Cattle Society of Ireland winner, Declan Bell from Clare, is presented with the award by Martin Heydon and Salers secretary Meryll Gillespie. \ Alf Harvey
Montbéliarde society winner, Alan William Hanbidge from Wicklow is presented with the award by Martin Heydon and Montbéliarde society chair Kenny Roberts. \ Alf Harvey
Irish Belgian Blue Cattle Society winner, Denise Donovan from Cork, is presented with the award by Martin Heydon and Irish Belgian Blue chair Michael Scanlon. \ Alf Harvey
Irish Aubrac Cattle Breed Society winners, Colin and Geraldine Jackson from Wicklow, are presented with their award by Martin Heydon and Irish Aubrac chair James Donnelan. \ Alf Harvey
Irish Dexter Cattle Society winner, Sean Flannery from KIldare, is presented with the award by Martin Heydon and John O’Neill, Irish Dexter chair. \ Alf Harvey
Irish Simmental Cattle Society winner, Garrett Behan from Ballyfin, Co Laois and handler Cian Martin are presented with the award by Martin Heydon and Emmanuel O’Dea, Irish Simmental president. \ Alf Harvey
Irish Parthenaise Cattle Breed Society winner, Emma Holohan from Stradbally, Co Laois, is presented with the award by Martin Heydon and Paddy Kavanagh, Irish Parthenaise chair. \ Alf Harvey
The Montbéliarde Cattle society award was presented to Alan William Hanbidge for his years of service to the breed and to the Montbélliarde society.
The Salers society chose Declan Bell, Co Clare, as the best breed promoter.
The Irish Charolais Cattle society award was presented to Seamus and Brian Nolan, Co Kilkenny, for the national calf champion, Firoda Tilly.
The Irish Limousin society selected Glenford Royalty, national show supreme champion from Kelly Stevenson and PJ McGrath, Co Wicklow.
The Irish Angus society award was presented to Michael and Oliver Flanagan, Co Westmeath, as the best breed promoters.
The Irish Piedmontese award was presented to John Commins, Co Tipperary, for his years of service to the breed.
The Irish Holstein Friesian Association award was presented to Liam and Sandra Murphy with Sterndale Colt Rae ET for her success at the 2022 Winter Fair.
Last, but certainly not least, the Irish Blonde Cattle society presented its award to John O’Halloran as the best breed promoter.
Irish Parthenaise Cattle Breed Society winner, Emma Holohan from Stradbally, Co Laois, is presented with the award by Martin Heydon and Paddy Kavanagh, Irish Parthenaise chair. \ Alf Harvey
Irish Shorthorn winners, Michael, Kieran, Adrian and Christopher Flatley from Mayo are presented with their award by Martin Heydon. \ Alf Harvey
Irish Hereford Breed Society winners, Brian and Lorraine Duignan from Cavan are presented with their award by Martin Heydon TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine at the Irish Pedigree Cattle Breeders awards in Portlaoise.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Irish Aberdeen Angus Association winners, John and Shane Murphy from Cork are presented with their award by Martin Heydon at the Irish Pedigree Cattle Breeders awards in Portlaoise. \ Alf Harvey
Sixteen breed societies gathered in the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise, Co Laois, on Friday 3 February, where each breed society nominated one breeder or animal that they felt helped to best promote their respective breeds throughout 2022 at shows, sales and breed events.
The awards came on the back of a two-year COVID-19 break after the inaugural Irish Pedigree Breeders Council awards ceremony which took place in February 2020.
They were presented by Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, Martin Heydon, who addressed the ceremony ahead of the presentations. Minister Heydon commended all of those in attendance, thanking them for their commitment to the sector.
Award winners
The Irish Aberdeen Angus Association award was presented to Shane and John Murphy, Co Cork, for their supreme all-Ireland champion, Mercury Special Tinge.
The Irish Hereford society award was presented to Brian Duignan, Co Cavan, for his national Hereford champion, Shancorpoll 1 Uakea.
The Irish Shorthorn society chose the Flatley family from Co Mayo as the best breed promoters.
The Irish Parthenaise society selected Co Laois woman, Emma Holohan, as the best breed promoter.
The Irish Simmental cattle society’s award was presented to Garrett and Lyndsey Behan, Co Laois, for their national champion, Clonagh Majestic Trixie.
Back row, from left: Irish Pedigree Breeders Council chair Sean Sherman, Seamus Nolan, Brian Nolan, Michael Flatley, Garrett Behan, Kelly Stevenson, John and Shane Murphy, Colin Jackson, Alan William Hanbidge, Liam Murphy and Manus Murphy. Front row, from left: Oliver Flanagan, Brian Duignan, Sean Flannery, John O’Halloran, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon, John Commins, Larry Feeney (outgoing president of the Irish Pedigree Breeders Council), Declan Bell, Michael Flannagan and Denise O’Donovan at the Irish Pedigree Cattle Breeders awards in Portlaoise. \ Alf Harvey
Blonde d'Aquitane winner, John O’Halloran from Mulinahone, Co. Kilkenny is presented with the award by Martin Heydon TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Blonde Aquitane chairman Willie Fitzpatrick from Ballybrophy, Co. Laois at the Irish Pedigree Cattle Breeders awards in Portlaoise.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Irish Holstein Friesian Association winners, Liam, Sandra, Manus and Niamh Murphy from Cork are presented with their award by Martin Heydon TD and Irish Holstein Friesian chief executive Laurence Feeney. \ Alf Harvey
Irish Piedmontese Cattle Society winners, John and Sarah Commins from Tipperary are presented with their award by Martin Heydon and Irish Piedmontese chair Roger O’Halloran. \ Alf Harvey
Irish Angus Cattle Society winners, Michael and Oliver Flanagan from Athlone, are presented with their award by Martin Heydon and Irish Pedigree Breeders Council chair Sean Sherman. \ Alf Harvey
Irish Limousin Cattle Society winners, PJ McGrath and Kelly Stephenson from Wicklow, are presented with the award by Martin Heydon and Irish Limousin president Alan Kelly. \ Alf Harvey
Irish Charolais Cattle Society winners, Seamus and Brian Nolan from Firoda, Castlecomer, Co KIlkenny, are presented with their award by Martin Heydon and Irish Charolais secretary Nevin McKiernan at the Irish Pedigree Breeders Council awards in Portlaoise. \ Alf Harvey
The Irish Dexter society award was presented to Sean Flannery, Co Kildare, for his service to the breed.
The Irish Aubrac society presented its award to Colin Jackson, Co Wicklow for his cow, Cahergal Kate, who had the highest replacement, terminal and dairy beef index in the breed.
The Irish Belgian Blue society award was presented to Daniel O’Donovan, Co Cork, for Don Oreo who was unbeaten throughout the 2022 show season.
Salers Cattle Society of Ireland winner, Declan Bell from Clare, is presented with the award by Martin Heydon and Salers secretary Meryll Gillespie. \ Alf Harvey
Montbéliarde society winner, Alan William Hanbidge from Wicklow is presented with the award by Martin Heydon and Montbéliarde society chair Kenny Roberts. \ Alf Harvey
Irish Belgian Blue Cattle Society winner, Denise Donovan from Cork, is presented with the award by Martin Heydon and Irish Belgian Blue chair Michael Scanlon. \ Alf Harvey
Irish Aubrac Cattle Breed Society winners, Colin and Geraldine Jackson from Wicklow, are presented with their award by Martin Heydon and Irish Aubrac chair James Donnelan. \ Alf Harvey
Irish Dexter Cattle Society winner, Sean Flannery from KIldare, is presented with the award by Martin Heydon and John O’Neill, Irish Dexter chair. \ Alf Harvey
Irish Simmental Cattle Society winner, Garrett Behan from Ballyfin, Co Laois and handler Cian Martin are presented with the award by Martin Heydon and Emmanuel O’Dea, Irish Simmental president. \ Alf Harvey
Irish Parthenaise Cattle Breed Society winner, Emma Holohan from Stradbally, Co Laois, is presented with the award by Martin Heydon and Paddy Kavanagh, Irish Parthenaise chair. \ Alf Harvey
The Montbéliarde Cattle society award was presented to Alan William Hanbidge for his years of service to the breed and to the Montbélliarde society.
The Salers society chose Declan Bell, Co Clare, as the best breed promoter.
The Irish Charolais Cattle society award was presented to Seamus and Brian Nolan, Co Kilkenny, for the national calf champion, Firoda Tilly.
The Irish Limousin society selected Glenford Royalty, national show supreme champion from Kelly Stevenson and PJ McGrath, Co Wicklow.
The Irish Angus society award was presented to Michael and Oliver Flanagan, Co Westmeath, as the best breed promoters.
The Irish Piedmontese award was presented to John Commins, Co Tipperary, for his years of service to the breed.
The Irish Holstein Friesian Association award was presented to Liam and Sandra Murphy with Sterndale Colt Rae ET for her success at the 2022 Winter Fair.
Last, but certainly not least, the Irish Blonde Cattle society presented its award to John O’Halloran as the best breed promoter.
Irish Parthenaise Cattle Breed Society winner, Emma Holohan from Stradbally, Co Laois, is presented with the award by Martin Heydon and Paddy Kavanagh, Irish Parthenaise chair. \ Alf Harvey
Irish Shorthorn winners, Michael, Kieran, Adrian and Christopher Flatley from Mayo are presented with their award by Martin Heydon. \ Alf Harvey
Irish Hereford Breed Society winners, Brian and Lorraine Duignan from Cavan are presented with their award by Martin Heydon TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine at the Irish Pedigree Cattle Breeders awards in Portlaoise.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Irish Aberdeen Angus Association winners, John and Shane Murphy from Cork are presented with their award by Martin Heydon at the Irish Pedigree Cattle Breeders awards in Portlaoise. \ Alf Harvey
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