All eyes turned to the showgrounds in Carrick-on-Shannon where the first weekend of the Carrick Winter Fair took place on Monday 17 November.
Judging kicked off just after 9am, with the sale getting under way at 12.30pm ringside and online through MartBids.
From early morning, the crowds gathered for what is one of the most highly anticipated commercial cattle events of the year.
With the show and sale of weanling heifers set for next weekend, Monday’s sale consisted of weanling bulls and all senior cattle.
As expected, breeding heifers were on fire, particularly the top-end Belgian Blue and Limousin-cross heifers. A large consortium of Northern Ireland customers boosted the trade, as over 30 cattle and a number of the highest-priced lots founds new homes across the border.
When all was settled on Monday evening, auctioneers Francis McGowan and PJ Reynolds took a well earned rest, after seeing 87 heifers average €5,721 out of 97 through the ring.
A full clearance was achieved for the 30 weanling bulls which averaged €3,328, as well as the five bullocks which averaged €4,530.
Leading the trade at €16,000 were the McKinney brothers from Co Donegal with their Belgian Blue-cross heifer sired by Imperial. Born in April 2024, this 644kg heifer was knocked down to Mark McMenamin from Co Donegal.
Hot on her heels at €15,000 was Liam and Katie Dolan’s Belgian Blue-cross heifer, which took first prize in the heifer any breed showing two or more permanent teeth.
Born in September 2023 and sired by Nox De L’Orglet out of a Belgian Blue cow, this 820kg heifer was secured online by Gareth Corrie from Northern Ireland.
A bid of €10,900 secured Richard O’Dowd’s Belgian Blue-cross heifer retaining a calf’s mouth.
Born in February 2024, this stylish roan heifer is out of Du Stordeur Flaneur and a Limousin cow. Tipping the scales at 810kg, auctioneer PJ Reynolds knocked her to Gerard Keville in Riverstown.
Black Limousin heifer
Cavan breeders Tom and Niall McKiernan received €10,300 for their Limousin-cross heifer retaining a calf’s mouth.
A second-prizewinner in her class and weighing 740kg, this tremendous black heifer by Claddagh McCabe is out of a Belgian Blue cow. Having the final call on her was Norman Connolly.
Hitting €9,600 and making their long trip from Dingle in Co Kerry worthwhile was the O’Connor family with a Belgian Blue heifer which picked up a red ticket in the pre-sale show.
A daughter of Delure De La Beole, this February 2024-born heifer weighed 700kg and went away with judge Martin Tumilty, who secured a number of lots on the day.
Three heifers exchanged hands at €9,000. The first came in the form of Daniel O’Connor’s powerhouse of a black Limousin-cross heifer by Elite Forever Brill.
Garnishing a second-prize ticket and weighing in at 830kg, she sold ringside to James Alexander. The O’Connors from Kerry had the stock in demand once again when they realised €9,000 for their Belgian Blue-cross heifer retaining a calf’s mouth.
Sired by a hybrid stock bull, this March 2024-born heifer weighing 650kg was snapped up by Paul Slevin.
The final heifer to trade at €9,000 was Aodhan McCormack’s breeding heifer weighing 680kg.
Bred from Patissier De La Grande Rose, this December 2023-born heifer sold ringside to Norman Connolly.
Weanling bulls and show champions
In the weanling bulls Seamus Delaney went away with the highest price of €6,750 for his six-month-old son of Trueman Idol who was tapped out as reserve champion Limousin earlier that day.
Weighing in at 400kg, this well-made black Limousin cross calf found a new abode in Co Sligo with the Burke family.
At €6,100 was Declan O’Meara with his first-prize winning Limousin cross calf.
Another son of Trueman Idol, this 10-month-old calf weighed 530kg and sold to Co Donegal.
In the pre-sale show, judges Martin Tumilty and Alan Veitch, both from Northern Ireland, took care of proceedings.
Winning the overall champion Limousin was Donegal man Ciaran Gibbons with a daughter of Trueman Idol which came through the Limousin cross heifer retaining a calf’s mouth class.
The overall title in the Charolais section went to another Donegal man in Tommy McLaughlin. A first-prize winner in the heifer any breed showing two or more permanent teeth, this Goldstar Hugo daughter traded for €6,000.
Roscommon breeder David McMahon took home the reserve champion Charolais award for his Charolais cross bullock by Corlismore Noble. Weighing in at 880kg, this April 2024 born steer sold to a fellow Roscommon breeder at €4,600.
It was a magnificent day for Katie and Liam Dolan, as they clinched the overall champion Belgian Blue in a terrific display of cattle. Having come through one of the toughest classes of the day, the Belgian Blue cross heifer retaining a calf’s mouth, this Delure De La Beole daughter went on to secure the overall Belgian Blue accolade.
Standing reserve to her was another fantastic Blue calf from the Fitzsimons family in Co Cavan. Sired by James Bond, this black bull calf weighed in at 400kg and sold for €4,500.
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