Last weekend the Irish Charolais Society hosted the inaugural elite heifer sale in Tullamore Mart. With large numbers of both males and females at the Christmas Cracker each year, the decision was made to take heifers out of the sale and give them their own sale.

This decision was not made lightly as it was always going be hard to generate the crowd over two days that the Cracker does in one. However, these doubts were quickly put to bed when the heifers started entering the ring and the breed witnessed its strongest female trade in a number of years.

This catchy 17-month-old daughter of Liscally Eti left the ring unsold at €6,200

This was helped by a number of drop outs and a thorough inspection by the society, which helped reduce numbers significantly from the 111 catalogued.

The sale went on see 82% of heifers through the ring sell to an average of €3,798, with more heifers sold than in the previous three Christmas Crackers.

Last year’s sale saw a mere 52% of heifers sell to just over €4,000. While the 2015 sale saw an increase in clearance to 80% its average fell to just over €3,500, back significantly on both 2017 and 2016.

Roughan Madilin sold for the day’s top price of €14,500.

Bred and exhibited by Pat McClean from Co Donegal, Madilin started a bidding war between a number of pedigree Charolais breeders from different parts of Ireland. Coming out on top to secure the Roughan Dix De Coe daughter was the Bostonia herd based in Enniscrone, Co Sligo.

The young Madilin has enjoyed a successful show season, winning the Donegal Charolais Club Calf Championship in August.

Her stablemates Roughan Linda and Roughan Louise 4 wrapped up a memorable day for the Donegal breeder, finding new homes at €3,500 each. Linda is a daughter of the powerful Roughan Galant, while Louise is a daughter of Roughan Dix De Coe.

Liscally My Fair Lady 6 ET

Next best at €8,000 was the 14-month-old Liscally My Fair Lady 6 ET from Lewis and Jon Regan, Castlegal, Co Leitrim.

This sweet, feminine heifer attracted a lot of attention before being wrapped up by a breeder in Co Tipperary. Sired by Balmyle Vagabond, Lady has also enjoyed an eventful show season, picking up rosettes in the west of Ireland all year.

Liscally My Fair Lady secures €8,000 for Lewis Regan. Shown by Daniel O'Connor. \ Tricia Kennedy

The Regan outfit didn’t stop there, with their other two offerings selling for €4,700 and €3,150.

First up at €4,700 was Liscally Liscally 3 ET, a October 2015-born daughter of Liscally Eti.

At €3,150 was Liscally My Fair Lady 2 ET, a full sister to the €8,000 My Fair Lady 6 ET.

Hitting the €6,500 mark was reserve junior champion Goldstar Mirabelle from Martin Ryan and family, Thurles, Co Tipperary. This October 2016-born daughter of Texan Gie, headed up an outstanding class of heifers earlier in the day under judge Alwyn Williams of the Castllemawr Charolais herd in Gwynedd, Wales.

The Goldstar herd’s success did not stop there, with Mirabelle’s teammates Melodie and Melanie selling for €4,350 and €3,450 respectively. Virtuose daughter Goldstar Melodie sold to Cork breeder Maurice Keane. Lisnagre Elite daughter Goldstar Melanie sold to Joesph O’Reilly from Kenagh, Co Longford.

Reserve Junior Champion is Goldstar Mirabelle shown by Martin Ryan sold for €6,500. \ Tricia Kennedy

Co Offaly breeder John Fleury clinched the senior championship with Drumcullen Lily. This big, powerful heifer changed hands at €6,000, selling to breeders from Tuam, Co Galway. The March 2015-born daughter of Vexour Granville sold in-calf to the easy-calving Dovea AI sire Bivouac.

Senior Champion, Drumcullen Lily exhibited by John Fleury sold for €6,000. \ Tricia Kennedy

Mr Fleury also sold Drumcullen Mimosa for €4,000. This 15-month-old daughter of the herd’s former stock bull Camber Jameson also went west, to Patrick Clarke from Co Galway.

The Geoghegan family from Streamstown, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, sold their four offerings for an average of €3,825. The first to go under the hammer at €5,400 was Lisnagre Lovely Lady ET, a 23-month-old daughter of Prime Roberto. She sold to Co Roscommon breeder Roger Mc Hugh.

Next up was her full sister, Lisnagre Longford Lady ET. She was snapped up by Stephen Mohan from Co Monaghan at €4,300. The two-year-old Lisnagre Lavender ET found a new home at €3,200. This daughter of Indurain sold to Joseph O’ Reilly from Co Longford.

Their final offering, Lisnagre Mona, a daughter of the homebred Lisnagre Hansome, was knocked down at €2,400 to Patrick Fahy from Co Galway.

Three lots

Michael Quin from Newmarket On Fergus, Co Clare, had three lots in the ring early on averaging at €4,333. The first to go under the hammer at €5,000 was Clenagh Lady 2 ET, a daughter of Dromiskin Viceroy and prolific cow Clenagh Tranquil.

This well-bred heifer sold in calf to Cavelands Fenian. Her stablemates, Clenagh Lexie and Clenagh Libby, then traded at €4,000 each. Lexie, a daughter of Cottage Devon, sold in calf to 2016 Christmas Cracker champion Clenagh Lyle. Her partner, Libby, who is a daughter of Elgin Fergal, also sold in calf to Clenagh Lyle.

Judge Alwyn Williams found his junior champion in the form of Crossane4 Milly, exhibited by the McGovern brothers from Fivemilebourne, Co Sligo.

This catchy 17-month-old daughter of Liscally Eti left the ring unsold at €6,200. However, her herdmates enjoyed a buoyant trade, with the hammer falling at €4,800 for the Alwent Goldbar daughter Crossane4 Mia. At €3,600 was the March 2015-born daughter of Nippur, Crossane Lily.

Junior Female Champion Crossane4 Milly exhibited by Eoin McGovern \ Tricia Kennedy

Michael Kiernan from Co Leitrim was awarded the reserve senior champion with Gallaway Malissa, a daughter of the UK sire Thrunton Flyingscotsman. Malissa went on to sell for €4,700, falling to Liam Ruddy from Strabane, Co Tyrone.

Reserve Senior Champion for Gallaway Malissa for Michael Kiernan \ Tricia Kennedy

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