Temperatures weren't the only thing rising over the weekend, as demand for Limousin bulls and heifers soared at the Irish Limousin Cattle Society's show and sale in Roscommon Mart.
A total of 53 bulls averaged €6,123, resulting in a 97% clearance, with all three heifers selling to average €4,533.
With the average price for bulls up €389 and an extra 21 bulls sold on last year's exceptional sale, it was a magnificent finale to spring sales for the French breed, which has enjoyed a remarkable year to date.
Achieving the highest price at €10,200 was Creenagh Alfred, a first-prizewinning son of Keltic Rembrandt and Creenagh Serena, a daughter of the great Ampertaine Elgin.
Although above average on calving, he had five stars across the board for replacement and terminal.
Bred by Pat Logan from Drumshanbo, Co Leitrim, this single carrier of the F94L and Q204X genes attracted significant ringside and online activity before selling to Christine Loughran from Co Tyrone.
Dromalty Viduka, shown by Eamon O'Donovan, was reserve senior champion and sold for €9,600. \ Alfie Shaw
Reserve senior champion Dromalty Viduka made €9,600 for Limerick breeders Eamon and Aidan O'Donovan.
Born in December 2024, Viduka is a son of Knock Msport out of the Norman Inventor-bred dam Newtown Top Girl.
A double F94L carrier, he came with a terminal index of €211, below-average calving figures and a carcase weight figure of 40.6kg. After some lively ringside bidding, he was snapped up by a Kerry-based sucker farmer.
Lisna double
Galway breeder Dermot Shaugnessy has been on a winning streak this year and he continued in that vein of form on Saturday, winning the junior and senior championships under judge Martin Davis of the Castlebrock herd in Co Longford.
Leading the tribesman's charge at €9,100 was the overall junior champion Lisna Apollo, a February 2025-born son of Loyal and Lisna Master, a Plumtree Fantastic daughter.
With favorable calving figures and a five-star replacement of €133, he was the pick of Caitriona Sheridan from Co Louth at €9,100.
Lisna Apollo, shown by Dermot Shaughnessy with judge Martin Davis, was junior champion and sold for €9,100. \ Alfie Shaw
The senior champion was the stylish Lisna Sir son Lisna Amarus. With a bloodline containing breed favorites Tomschoice Lexicon, On-Dit, Plumtree Fantastic and Wilodge Formulaone, this January 2025-born bull carries copies of both the F94L and the Q204X genes.
Sitting in the top 40% of the breed for terminal and replacement indexes, he was the choice lot of Michael McGillin from Co Tyrone at €8,000.
Ballyline pen
Local breeder Bertie Mannion saw his impressive pen of five young bulls achieve a superb average price of €7,620.
Out in front at €8,700 was the 14-month-old Ballyline Alexander, a double F94L carrier sired by Tomschoice Lexicon which clinched the reserve junior championship earlier in the day.
Offering below-average calving figures and a brilliant set of figures, he sold to a herd in Co Kerry.
The 14-month-old Ballyline Alex then took up the baton selling for €8,000 to suckler farmer Gerard Fahy from Co Galway. A second-prizewinner in his class, this Tomschoice Lexicon son offered buyers a star-studded set of indexes, as well as below-average calving figures on beef cows and heifers.
Ballyline Alex sold for €8,000. \ Alfie Shaw
His comrade Ballyline Alan also exchanged hands at €8,000, falling to Galway suckler farmer John Kelly.
A son of Mereside Godolphin and Ballyline Norma, a Goldies Jackpot daughter, he went to auction carrying two copies of the F94L gene. Like his companions, he displayed a solid set of figures, sitting in the top 20% of the breed for replacement and the top 40% for terminal.
Nebbiolo son
Clooncarreen Vibrant, a first-prizewinning son of Nebbiolo, also hit €8,000 for Leitrim breeder Brian Faughnan.
Offering buyers single copies of the F94L and NT821 genes, his dam Newtown Treasure is a daughter of Cameos. In the top 40% of the breed for terminal and dairy-beef, he was purchased by Colm McDonnell from Co Louth.
Tommy and Noel Claffey from Co Westmeath forked out €7,700 for the Slieve Pablo son Drewstown VIP to run with their suckler herd in the midlands.
Out of the Whinfellpark Lomu daughter Caherlevoy Tinkey, VIP picked up a second-prize ticket in the pre-sale show.
Bred and exhibited by Tony and Elaine Madden from Co Meath, he has four-star terminal and dairy-beef indexes.
All three heifers came from the Claremorris-based herd of Thomas Holleran. Having clinched the female championship title, Corrib View Uniform 2 went on to sell for the highest price of €5,200 for the Mayo herd. Sired by Ardea Rolex, this double F94L carrier sold in-calf to Nebbiolo.
Temperatures weren't the only thing rising over the weekend, as demand for Limousin bulls and heifers soared at the Irish Limousin Cattle Society's show and sale in Roscommon Mart.
A total of 53 bulls averaged €6,123, resulting in a 97% clearance, with all three heifers selling to average €4,533.
With the average price for bulls up €389 and an extra 21 bulls sold on last year's exceptional sale, it was a magnificent finale to spring sales for the French breed, which has enjoyed a remarkable year to date.
Achieving the highest price at €10,200 was Creenagh Alfred, a first-prizewinning son of Keltic Rembrandt and Creenagh Serena, a daughter of the great Ampertaine Elgin.
Although above average on calving, he had five stars across the board for replacement and terminal.
Bred by Pat Logan from Drumshanbo, Co Leitrim, this single carrier of the F94L and Q204X genes attracted significant ringside and online activity before selling to Christine Loughran from Co Tyrone.
Dromalty Viduka, shown by Eamon O'Donovan, was reserve senior champion and sold for €9,600. \ Alfie Shaw
Reserve senior champion Dromalty Viduka made €9,600 for Limerick breeders Eamon and Aidan O'Donovan.
Born in December 2024, Viduka is a son of Knock Msport out of the Norman Inventor-bred dam Newtown Top Girl.
A double F94L carrier, he came with a terminal index of €211, below-average calving figures and a carcase weight figure of 40.6kg. After some lively ringside bidding, he was snapped up by a Kerry-based sucker farmer.
Lisna double
Galway breeder Dermot Shaugnessy has been on a winning streak this year and he continued in that vein of form on Saturday, winning the junior and senior championships under judge Martin Davis of the Castlebrock herd in Co Longford.
Leading the tribesman's charge at €9,100 was the overall junior champion Lisna Apollo, a February 2025-born son of Loyal and Lisna Master, a Plumtree Fantastic daughter.
With favorable calving figures and a five-star replacement of €133, he was the pick of Caitriona Sheridan from Co Louth at €9,100.
Lisna Apollo, shown by Dermot Shaughnessy with judge Martin Davis, was junior champion and sold for €9,100. \ Alfie Shaw
The senior champion was the stylish Lisna Sir son Lisna Amarus. With a bloodline containing breed favorites Tomschoice Lexicon, On-Dit, Plumtree Fantastic and Wilodge Formulaone, this January 2025-born bull carries copies of both the F94L and the Q204X genes.
Sitting in the top 40% of the breed for terminal and replacement indexes, he was the choice lot of Michael McGillin from Co Tyrone at €8,000.
Ballyline pen
Local breeder Bertie Mannion saw his impressive pen of five young bulls achieve a superb average price of €7,620.
Out in front at €8,700 was the 14-month-old Ballyline Alexander, a double F94L carrier sired by Tomschoice Lexicon which clinched the reserve junior championship earlier in the day.
Offering below-average calving figures and a brilliant set of figures, he sold to a herd in Co Kerry.
The 14-month-old Ballyline Alex then took up the baton selling for €8,000 to suckler farmer Gerard Fahy from Co Galway. A second-prizewinner in his class, this Tomschoice Lexicon son offered buyers a star-studded set of indexes, as well as below-average calving figures on beef cows and heifers.
Ballyline Alex sold for €8,000. \ Alfie Shaw
His comrade Ballyline Alan also exchanged hands at €8,000, falling to Galway suckler farmer John Kelly.
A son of Mereside Godolphin and Ballyline Norma, a Goldies Jackpot daughter, he went to auction carrying two copies of the F94L gene. Like his companions, he displayed a solid set of figures, sitting in the top 20% of the breed for replacement and the top 40% for terminal.
Nebbiolo son
Clooncarreen Vibrant, a first-prizewinning son of Nebbiolo, also hit €8,000 for Leitrim breeder Brian Faughnan.
Offering buyers single copies of the F94L and NT821 genes, his dam Newtown Treasure is a daughter of Cameos. In the top 40% of the breed for terminal and dairy-beef, he was purchased by Colm McDonnell from Co Louth.
Tommy and Noel Claffey from Co Westmeath forked out €7,700 for the Slieve Pablo son Drewstown VIP to run with their suckler herd in the midlands.
Out of the Whinfellpark Lomu daughter Caherlevoy Tinkey, VIP picked up a second-prize ticket in the pre-sale show.
Bred and exhibited by Tony and Elaine Madden from Co Meath, he has four-star terminal and dairy-beef indexes.
All three heifers came from the Claremorris-based herd of Thomas Holleran. Having clinched the female championship title, Corrib View Uniform 2 went on to sell for the highest price of €5,200 for the Mayo herd. Sired by Ardea Rolex, this double F94L carrier sold in-calf to Nebbiolo.
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