Some herds come and go in pedigree breeding, others make an impact, and then there are the few that leave a legacy which lasts forever. Monamore Holsteins is one of those herds which will be remembered through the generations, not just for its cattle, but the respect the name gained over the years.

On Wednesday 17 June, the herd's Final Chapter Dispersal Sale was held on-farm in Ballymakenny, Co Louth.

With some of the most prestigious bloodlines in the Holstein Friesian breed catalogued, the quality of the females on offer were nothing short of exceptional. But beneath the booming trade and frantic bidding which transpired, there was a sense of sombre reflection, as one of Ireland's leading Holstein Friesian herds bowed out for the final time.

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Owned and run by Tom Kelly and family, the family's history of breeding cattle traces back five generations. After purchasing Philipstown Farm in 1963, Tom Kelly set up the Monamore Holstein Friesian herd in 1979.

Tom and his wife Rhona on their farm at Ballymakenny in Co Louth, where they ran the Monamore Holstein Friesian Herd since 1979.

Since then, Tom invested in the most elite cow families from across the world, forming a breeding dynasty at Monamore. This foundation would go on to produce foundation stock for many notable Holstein Friesian herds across Ireland. Home to some iconic cow families, including the Torch and Vera lines, the herd has produced a remarkable 638 cows classified (EX), as well as capturing nine National Herd titles. But one feels Tom Kelly's greatest accomplishment does not lie in awards or titles; it's the unwavering respect he has earned over the years from fellow breeders. As the sale unfolded, that admiration and respect became abundantly clear, as herds from all across Ireland and the UK competed hard to secure Monamore breeding females, one last time.

When auctioneer Michael Taaffe laid down his gavel on Wednesday afternoon, all 75 Monamore females had averaged just over €5,500, a record average for a dairy dispersal sale in Ireland.

Lambdas Aria

Merging some of the most distinguished lines in the breed, Monamore Lambdas Aria ET commanded the highest price of the day at €14,500. All American-bred, sired by Farnear Delta-Lambda, her dam Ms Apples Aria ET comes from the same family as the 2020 North American Dairy Show Champion and the 2025 Ontario Spring Discovery Show Champion. Born in October 2024, she sold in-calf to Beyond Hi-Praise and will now join the O'Connor's Cedarmore Herd in Co Cork, hosts of the 2026 IHFA National Open Day.

Monamore Miss Shakira ET, shown by Holly Darvell, sold for 12,400gns.

Just before this, Monamore Miss Shakira ET hit €12,400, selling to the Allen family's well-known pedigree herd in Co Monaghan. Just 11 months old, Shakira is a daughter of Siemers Wolf Hulu and the famous Miss Apple Snapple-Red-ET, a three-time All-American champion. Maternal sisters to Shakira include Erbacres Snapple Shakira, a two-time World Dairy Expo champion, and Milksource Shay-Red ET, junior champion at the World Dairy Expo in 2025.

Have the Ticket

Realising €11,200 was Monamore Have The Ticket ET, an in-calf heifer born in December 2023. From one of the most successful lines in the herd, this powerful daughter of Cherry-Lily Zip Luster-P and Duckett Parfect Heidi ET sold to a top-end herd in Co Meath. She is a sister to Monamore Have The Honour ET, which sold for 9,100gns to the Willsbro Herd in the 2023 Summer Sizzler Sale, and Monamore Have A Ball ET, which sold for 8,500gns at the Monamore Sunset Sale 5.

Monamore Have The Ticket ET, shown by Holly Darvell, sold for 11,200gns.

Also crossing into five figures and trading at €10,100 was Monamore D.L. Raven, a November 2024-born daughter of Farnear Delta-Lambda. Another impeccably well-bred heifer, Raven's mother Monamore SVB Raven sold for 9,000gns at the Sunset Sale 3. Raven is a sister to Monamore Midmarch Raven, which sold for 6,800gns, and Monamore All-Star Raven, which sold for 5,700gns at just three months old. She will now reside with a herd in Co Monaghan.

Up next at €9,600 was Monamore Apple Snapple Red ET, a picture-perfect heifer going back to a family of cows steeped in All-American champions and sired by Siemers Wolf Hulu. Snapping this one up was a herd in Northern Ireland.

Baby calves

So much was the demand that baby calves as young as six weeks old sold for as high as €6,200, paid for Monamore Triton Rhapsody-P. Sired by Fraholme Vec Triton-PP, this little beauty's dam, Monamore LP Rhapsody, fetched 11,400gns in the Monamore Sunset Sale 5.