After more than 50 years of breeding pedigree Suffolk sheep to the highest standard, Mark Grealy from Middlethird, Maree, Oranmore, Co Galway, has decided to disperse his entire Oranmore flock.
Mark's family roots in pedigree sheep breeding traces back a long way.
In the 1950s and '60s, the Grealy family were highly respected sheep breeders of the native-bred Galway Sheep, winning many awards locally and nationally, including the RDS Show in Dublin.
History
They were one of the first breeders to bring Suffolk sheep to the west of Ireland in the 1960s.
Mark's late father Séan married Mary Duffy in 1961 and they took over the running of his uncle’s farm in Middlethird.
In 1972, Séan bought prizewinning pedigree Suffolk ewe hoggets and five other ewes as a present for Mary, which formed the foundation of the Oranmore Suffolk flock.
Sadly, Séan passed away after a long illness in 1985 and Mark took over the running of the farm with his mother Mary.
Over the years, they have exhibited at every show and sale in the west of Ireland and beyond, as well as the premier sales in Maynooth and Roscrea.
Since its foundation, Oranmore Suffolks have won the champion or reserve champion titles in every sales yard they stood in across the country.
In 1988, at their first attempt at the premier in Maynooth, Oranmore Suffolks won the Tynte Cup, the first time the cup crossed the River Shannon.
Top bloodlines
Over the years, Mark has looked to improve the quality of the flock by buying the best genetics he could find.
"Through the years, I have strived to always better my flock and produce the highest-quality sheep with the characteristics true to the Suffolk breed.
"I have bought sheep from Scotland, Northern Ireland and all over Ireland, with the top blood lines out of the rams that were breeding the best rams, many of whom were sire of the year," said Mark.
The flock has built a strong reputation for breeding straight, long, well-made sheep which are highly sought after.
"We have stayed true to nature, using natural service and, by doing so, we have the widest possible genetic gene pool in the flock.
"This, in turn, has led to great success because of the greater genetic variation to produce the best-quality lambs. We also sell our sheep in their natural state, untrimmed, so what you see is what you get," Mark added.
Oranmore Suffolks is a closed flock, except for the purchase of stock rams, which ensures the highest possible health status.
Championships
According to Mark, one of their greatest achievements was winning the performance recorded class at the premier in Roscrea in 2012.
"That was a special day. To top it off, the ram was purchased by the judge on the day John Christie of the Westcarse Flock, Stirling, Scotland, for 2,500gns," Mark remarked.
Mark Grealy with the winner of the performance recorded class at the Irish premier in Roscrea in 2012, which later sold to Scotland for 2,500gns.
Since 2020, the Grealys have won the Irish Suffolk premier champion title three times, the reserve champion title, the west of Ireland premier champion title, the Roscommon premier supreme champion title on five occasions and the reserve champion title twice.
In the last 10 years, they have produced eight champions and five reserve champions in Athenry.
On Friday 7 November 2025, the entire Oranmore flock will be dispersed in Athenry Mart, Co Galway, commencing at 6.30pm.
The sale will comprise 60 pure-bred females - all pedigree registered and export tested.
Alzheimers association
Commenting on the sale, Mark said: "I want to acknowledge the wonderful work the Alzheimers association does in our community.
"My mother Mary Duffy Grealy, who was the original owner of Oranmore Suffolks, has Alzheimers and their support to my mother and family is invaluable. To show our appreciation, the proceeds of one ewe at the sale will go directly to the association.
"Over the years, travelling every high road and byroad, we have met numerous people and made many lifelong friends.
"We sincerely appreciate all the people who bought sheep off us and the many returning customers year after year.
"Your business and loyalty will never be forgotten. We wish every purchaser who purchases sheep at the sale the best of luck and every success."
After more than 50 years of breeding pedigree Suffolk sheep to the highest standard, Mark Grealy from Middlethird, Maree, Oranmore, Co Galway, has decided to disperse his entire Oranmore flock.
Mark's family roots in pedigree sheep breeding traces back a long way.
In the 1950s and '60s, the Grealy family were highly respected sheep breeders of the native-bred Galway Sheep, winning many awards locally and nationally, including the RDS Show in Dublin.
History
They were one of the first breeders to bring Suffolk sheep to the west of Ireland in the 1960s.
Mark's late father Séan married Mary Duffy in 1961 and they took over the running of his uncle’s farm in Middlethird.
In 1972, Séan bought prizewinning pedigree Suffolk ewe hoggets and five other ewes as a present for Mary, which formed the foundation of the Oranmore Suffolk flock.
Sadly, Séan passed away after a long illness in 1985 and Mark took over the running of the farm with his mother Mary.
Over the years, they have exhibited at every show and sale in the west of Ireland and beyond, as well as the premier sales in Maynooth and Roscrea.
Since its foundation, Oranmore Suffolks have won the champion or reserve champion titles in every sales yard they stood in across the country.
In 1988, at their first attempt at the premier in Maynooth, Oranmore Suffolks won the Tynte Cup, the first time the cup crossed the River Shannon.
Top bloodlines
Over the years, Mark has looked to improve the quality of the flock by buying the best genetics he could find.
"Through the years, I have strived to always better my flock and produce the highest-quality sheep with the characteristics true to the Suffolk breed.
"I have bought sheep from Scotland, Northern Ireland and all over Ireland, with the top blood lines out of the rams that were breeding the best rams, many of whom were sire of the year," said Mark.
The flock has built a strong reputation for breeding straight, long, well-made sheep which are highly sought after.
"We have stayed true to nature, using natural service and, by doing so, we have the widest possible genetic gene pool in the flock.
"This, in turn, has led to great success because of the greater genetic variation to produce the best-quality lambs. We also sell our sheep in their natural state, untrimmed, so what you see is what you get," Mark added.
Oranmore Suffolks is a closed flock, except for the purchase of stock rams, which ensures the highest possible health status.
Championships
According to Mark, one of their greatest achievements was winning the performance recorded class at the premier in Roscrea in 2012.
"That was a special day. To top it off, the ram was purchased by the judge on the day John Christie of the Westcarse Flock, Stirling, Scotland, for 2,500gns," Mark remarked.
Mark Grealy with the winner of the performance recorded class at the Irish premier in Roscrea in 2012, which later sold to Scotland for 2,500gns.
Since 2020, the Grealys have won the Irish Suffolk premier champion title three times, the reserve champion title, the west of Ireland premier champion title, the Roscommon premier supreme champion title on five occasions and the reserve champion title twice.
In the last 10 years, they have produced eight champions and five reserve champions in Athenry.
On Friday 7 November 2025, the entire Oranmore flock will be dispersed in Athenry Mart, Co Galway, commencing at 6.30pm.
The sale will comprise 60 pure-bred females - all pedigree registered and export tested.
Alzheimers association
Commenting on the sale, Mark said: "I want to acknowledge the wonderful work the Alzheimers association does in our community.
"My mother Mary Duffy Grealy, who was the original owner of Oranmore Suffolks, has Alzheimers and their support to my mother and family is invaluable. To show our appreciation, the proceeds of one ewe at the sale will go directly to the association.
"Over the years, travelling every high road and byroad, we have met numerous people and made many lifelong friends.
"We sincerely appreciate all the people who bought sheep off us and the many returning customers year after year.
"Your business and loyalty will never be forgotten. We wish every purchaser who purchases sheep at the sale the best of luck and every success."
SHARING OPTIONS