The 2025 Athlone Agricultural Show took place on Sunday 15 June, on the farm of Michael O'Donohoe at Garnafeilagh.

Situated in the centre of the Country, the show attracted exhibitors and spectators from all corners of Ireland.

Judges in the cattle section were Seamus Nagle, Sean Sherman and Jim Foley, who teamed up at the end of the breed championships to adjudicate over the interbreed champion of the show.

Interbreed champion

They selected the overall Belgian Blue champion Castlecuffe Stacia exhibited by Denis Foynes from Clonaslee in Co Laois as their overall champion of the show.

Castlecuffe Stacia exhibited by Denis Foynes, interbreed champion and overall Belgian Blue champion.

Born in September 2024, Stacia is a soft fleshed daughter of Lotto and the homebred dam Castlecuff Diane.

She fought off the outstanding overall commercial champion exhibited by Mike and Pat Roseingave who was tapped forward as reserve overall interbreed champion of the show.

Overall commercial champion exhibited by Mike and Pat Roseingrave pictured with Freda Kinnarney from the Irish Shows Association.

Bred in Co Clare by the Roseingrave's, this fantastic Limousin cross Belgian Blue bull calf is a son of Trueman Idol. This was the third commercial championship in a matter of week's for the four-month-old black calf called Bob.

Aberdeen Angus

Niall and Brendan Regan from Co Roscommon reigned supreme in the Angus section, winning the overall and reserve overall Angus championships with Coneyisland Baron and Coneyisland Annie. Baron is a January 2025 born son of Tivanagh Baron while Annie is a daughter of Drumcrow Savoy.

Overall Angus champion Coneyisland Baron shown by Brendan Regan and Conor Gorman.

Hereford

Michael Molloy took the overall championship in the Herefords with Moyclare Xeno, a nine-month-old son of Moyclare Vance, with Micahel Bird in reserve with the Balleen Val daughter, Mountwilliams Triona.

Overall Hereford champion Moyclare Xeno shown by Michael Molloy.

Belgian Blue

Standing reserve in the Belgian Blue ring was Valarie Keogh from Co Offaly with Suzie, a September 2024-born daughter of Hong Wang.

Charolais

Co Meath breeder Shane Maguire took the championship ribbons in the Charolais with the February 2025-born bull calf DunDoire Admiral sired by Grangewood Royal Oak. In reserve was a stylish September 2024-born daughter of Pirate owned by Conor O'Dowd from Co Roscommon.

Limousin

Martin Davis from Co Longford triumphed in the Limousin with his January 2025-born heifer calf Castlebrock Ascot, pipping the reserve champion Clontown Ukiki exhibited by Callum Crosbie.

Overall Limousin champion Castlebrock Ascot shown by Martin and Ted Davis.

Simmental

To the delight of Cian Martin, Jim Foley tapped out the Clonagh New Yorker son Deerview Subaru as the overall Simmental champion before awarding the reserve championship to Jack Larkin's Glanville Tiger Lilly, a daughter of Broombrae Major.

Deerview Subaru, overall champion Simmental shown by Katie Larkin.

Salers

Catherine Minogue made the journey from Feakle in Co Clare worthwhile when she claimed the champion Salers with Coolagoree Cosette. Pushing this Montesqieu daughter all the way was Roskeel Destiny shown by Mayo breeders Charles and Ferdia Joyce, who stood reserve.

Shorthorn

In the Shorthorn section, Eoin Phelan stood top of the line with his January 2024-born daughter of Ballyline Whitepark Bertie, Ballinlig Barbie, with the reserve sash going the way of local breeder Thomas Fox.

Pick up this week's Irish Farmers Journal to read all about the cattle championships at the Athlone Show.