Celebrating 25 years in Ireland at the FBD National Livestock Show in Tullamore was the Salers breed. Judge for the event was French breeder Alex Seyrolle, who was hugely impressed with the standard throughout the classes.
He found his overall champion in Catherine Minogue’s senior heifer Coolagoree Beatrix. The Clare woman has enjoyed an unforgettable year on the show circuit, winning multiple red rosettes and championships. Beatrix is a rising three-year-old daughter of Forez and the Moygara Invader-bred dam, Corra Linn Odette. Reserve overall champion went to Niall Hunt’s senior bull calf Templeboy Diego, a 10-month-old son of Variegeois. Bred in Co Sligo, Diego also won the All-Ireland senior bull calf championship, as well as the overall junior champion.
Supreme champion Shorthorn, Portshan Blueway, shown by Lisa Dowd. \ Swarber Photography
Alfie and Conor Melvin’s Ashbury Dolce won the All-Ireland senior heifer calf championship, while the Sheskin Verminus daughter Ashbury Ezra took home the All-Ireland junior heifer calf title for the Dublin-based herd.
The inaugural commercial Salers class was headed up by Ryan Griffith from Co Donegal, with his stylish red Salers-cross Belgian Blue heifer, with Catherine Minogue in second with a smart blue roan Salers-cross Belgian Blue heifer.
Blonde d’Aquitaine
Commemorating 50 years in Ireland was the Irish Blonde d’Aquitaine Cattle Society. Taking the centre of the ring, there was Philip Crowe from Co Cavan, who made short work of the classes. His choice for overall champion was Brocca Tilly, sired by Hallfield Plato, the record-priced bull in the UK in 2021 at 12,000gns. Exhibited by John Barry Moran from Co Westmeath, Tilly was crowned Miss Future breeding Blonde female, sponsored by the European Blonde d’Aquitaine Association (FIERBA).
Reserve Blonde champion went to Derryleigh Tina, sired by a son of Druk Lance and out of a homebred dam from the herd of Michael Creed in Co Cork.
Heatherview Roxie, overall champion Belgian Blue shown by Tommy and Pauline Fitzgerald, with Sean Sherman, Secretary of the IBCS, Thomas O'Doherty, President of the IBCS and judge Trevor Ashmore.
First place calf in the €2,000 Blonde calf extravaganza was sired by Silverwood Mark and exhibited by Ann Gallery from Co Clare.
Shorthorns
It truly was a momentous day for the Dowd family from Co Galway in the beef Shorthorn ring, as they won both the overall champion and overall junior champion. Taking top spot for them was Portshan Blueway and her fabulous heifer calf, Creaga Alexa. Born in 2017, Blueway was bred by Frank Whitney and is a daughter of Rockville Clohessy. Her heifer calf Alexa trumped a brilliant day for the Dowds, as the Napoleon of Upsall daughter went on to win the overall junior champion beef Shorthorn on her own. Reserve overall champion beef Shorthorn went the way of well-known Carlow breeder Martin Kelly. Doing the business for him was the Glenisla Masterston daughter, Ricketstown Urymaid Trixie.
Lilly and Peter Cooke exhibiting Elli, the Fleckvieh champion at Tullamore Show pictured with judge, Reinhard Pfleger.
In the Dairy Shorthorns, James Lambe from Co Monaghan reigned supreme once again with Ballytrain Marina 11th, a 2019-born daughter of Bushmills Jellybean.
Belgian Blue
One of the beaming lights on this year’s show circuit has been Heatherview Roxie, the Boherard Overdose daughter exhibited by Tommy and Pauline Fitzgerald. In Tullamore she claimed the ultimate crown, as judge Trevor Ashmore made no hesitation in crowing the rising two-year-old overall champion. In reserve was Errill Superstar exhibited by Billy Dunne from Co Laois. This super black heifer born in October 2024 is a daughter of Tattoo and an Imperial-bred cow.
Aubrac
Wexford breeder Leo Dooley triumphed in the Aubrac ring, as judge Ernest Mackey slapped Altamont Sunset forward as overall champion. Born in October 2022, this in-calf heifer is a daughter of Altamont Oats. Terence and Sean McSweeney claimed reserve honours with Ballyconneely Utopia, a 10-month-old daughter of Dauphin.
Parthenaise
Taking the championship ribbons in the Parthenaise under judge Patrick Marz was Anthony Scally, with Adele, a January 2025-born daughter of Sirez.
Pushing her to the overall title and claiming the reserve champion Parthenaise was Moyvoughley Valley, an April 2024-born son of Hongrois shown by Ronan and Anna Carroll.
Irish Moiled
Purchased in the Magnificent Moilie online auction earlier this year, Beechmount Lizzie 2 proved a wise buy for Joe Boyce from Co Galway, as she came out on top to clinch the overall champion Irish Moiled.
Dairy champions
Hallow Octain Twizzle took the overall Holstein Friesian championship for the Jones family from Co Wexford, with Evergreen Susie Mist 26RC from Linda and Sandra Murphy in reserve. Meanwhile, in the Jersey ring, Cork breeders Peter and Becky Hynes wrapped up the championship with Rathard Barcelona Kasey.
Rathard Barcelona Kasey, supreme champion Jersey, shown by Becky and Peter Hynes.
Concluding proceedings and winning the first ever Fleckvieh championship at Tullamore was Peter Cooke from Co Tipperary with his senior cow, Elli. Born in 2019, this fine specimen of an imported cow is bred from Wrangler and Eiche.
Celebrating 25 years in Ireland at the FBD National Livestock Show in Tullamore was the Salers breed. Judge for the event was French breeder Alex Seyrolle, who was hugely impressed with the standard throughout the classes.
He found his overall champion in Catherine Minogue’s senior heifer Coolagoree Beatrix. The Clare woman has enjoyed an unforgettable year on the show circuit, winning multiple red rosettes and championships. Beatrix is a rising three-year-old daughter of Forez and the Moygara Invader-bred dam, Corra Linn Odette. Reserve overall champion went to Niall Hunt’s senior bull calf Templeboy Diego, a 10-month-old son of Variegeois. Bred in Co Sligo, Diego also won the All-Ireland senior bull calf championship, as well as the overall junior champion.
Supreme champion Shorthorn, Portshan Blueway, shown by Lisa Dowd. \ Swarber Photography
Alfie and Conor Melvin’s Ashbury Dolce won the All-Ireland senior heifer calf championship, while the Sheskin Verminus daughter Ashbury Ezra took home the All-Ireland junior heifer calf title for the Dublin-based herd.
The inaugural commercial Salers class was headed up by Ryan Griffith from Co Donegal, with his stylish red Salers-cross Belgian Blue heifer, with Catherine Minogue in second with a smart blue roan Salers-cross Belgian Blue heifer.
Blonde d’Aquitaine
Commemorating 50 years in Ireland was the Irish Blonde d’Aquitaine Cattle Society. Taking the centre of the ring, there was Philip Crowe from Co Cavan, who made short work of the classes. His choice for overall champion was Brocca Tilly, sired by Hallfield Plato, the record-priced bull in the UK in 2021 at 12,000gns. Exhibited by John Barry Moran from Co Westmeath, Tilly was crowned Miss Future breeding Blonde female, sponsored by the European Blonde d’Aquitaine Association (FIERBA).
Reserve Blonde champion went to Derryleigh Tina, sired by a son of Druk Lance and out of a homebred dam from the herd of Michael Creed in Co Cork.
Heatherview Roxie, overall champion Belgian Blue shown by Tommy and Pauline Fitzgerald, with Sean Sherman, Secretary of the IBCS, Thomas O'Doherty, President of the IBCS and judge Trevor Ashmore.
First place calf in the €2,000 Blonde calf extravaganza was sired by Silverwood Mark and exhibited by Ann Gallery from Co Clare.
Shorthorns
It truly was a momentous day for the Dowd family from Co Galway in the beef Shorthorn ring, as they won both the overall champion and overall junior champion. Taking top spot for them was Portshan Blueway and her fabulous heifer calf, Creaga Alexa. Born in 2017, Blueway was bred by Frank Whitney and is a daughter of Rockville Clohessy. Her heifer calf Alexa trumped a brilliant day for the Dowds, as the Napoleon of Upsall daughter went on to win the overall junior champion beef Shorthorn on her own. Reserve overall champion beef Shorthorn went the way of well-known Carlow breeder Martin Kelly. Doing the business for him was the Glenisla Masterston daughter, Ricketstown Urymaid Trixie.
Lilly and Peter Cooke exhibiting Elli, the Fleckvieh champion at Tullamore Show pictured with judge, Reinhard Pfleger.
In the Dairy Shorthorns, James Lambe from Co Monaghan reigned supreme once again with Ballytrain Marina 11th, a 2019-born daughter of Bushmills Jellybean.
Belgian Blue
One of the beaming lights on this year’s show circuit has been Heatherview Roxie, the Boherard Overdose daughter exhibited by Tommy and Pauline Fitzgerald. In Tullamore she claimed the ultimate crown, as judge Trevor Ashmore made no hesitation in crowing the rising two-year-old overall champion. In reserve was Errill Superstar exhibited by Billy Dunne from Co Laois. This super black heifer born in October 2024 is a daughter of Tattoo and an Imperial-bred cow.
Aubrac
Wexford breeder Leo Dooley triumphed in the Aubrac ring, as judge Ernest Mackey slapped Altamont Sunset forward as overall champion. Born in October 2022, this in-calf heifer is a daughter of Altamont Oats. Terence and Sean McSweeney claimed reserve honours with Ballyconneely Utopia, a 10-month-old daughter of Dauphin.
Parthenaise
Taking the championship ribbons in the Parthenaise under judge Patrick Marz was Anthony Scally, with Adele, a January 2025-born daughter of Sirez.
Pushing her to the overall title and claiming the reserve champion Parthenaise was Moyvoughley Valley, an April 2024-born son of Hongrois shown by Ronan and Anna Carroll.
Irish Moiled
Purchased in the Magnificent Moilie online auction earlier this year, Beechmount Lizzie 2 proved a wise buy for Joe Boyce from Co Galway, as she came out on top to clinch the overall champion Irish Moiled.
Dairy champions
Hallow Octain Twizzle took the overall Holstein Friesian championship for the Jones family from Co Wexford, with Evergreen Susie Mist 26RC from Linda and Sandra Murphy in reserve. Meanwhile, in the Jersey ring, Cork breeders Peter and Becky Hynes wrapped up the championship with Rathard Barcelona Kasey.
Rathard Barcelona Kasey, supreme champion Jersey, shown by Becky and Peter Hynes.
Concluding proceedings and winning the first ever Fleckvieh championship at Tullamore was Peter Cooke from Co Tipperary with his senior cow, Elli. Born in 2019, this fine specimen of an imported cow is bred from Wrangler and Eiche.
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