Crowned the junior champion by judge, Stuart Fotheringham of the Ballinloan herd in Perth, Donnelly Hernando has an impressive record of 10 first placings from the summer show circuit including the National Limousin show in Tullamore and the Reserve Male title at the All-Ireland Derby in Castlewellan.

A son of Wilodge Vantastic, he is out of the Dauphin dam, Newtown Trixie, and has five stars for both terminal and replacement index. Finding a new home in the North, he was bought by George McCague of the Bridgeview herd in Newry, Co Down.

A huge crowd including lots of onlookers turned up to view the 140 bulls that were catalogued for sale. Buyers were selective and particularly eager to acquire a well balanced bull with plenty of power and size. While trade may have been sticky towards the end, the sale went on to produce an average of €3,453 (down from €3,870 last year) with prices starting at €1,800. Around 11 animals were exported to the North and Britain. The final clearance was 62%.

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Breed secretary said: “Limousin breeders do their utmost to ensure they are breeding bulls that the market place is looking for. The progeny of 57 different sires were on offer at this sale ensuring that the purchaser – whether new to the breed or changing his stockbull – had a great choice of genetics available to him”.

Next highest at €7,000 was the senior champion, the March 2012-born Baileys Hanley, bred by Tom Bailey and exhibited by the Connell Bros from Oldcastle. A son of Queenshead Altea, he is out of Dunmore Valerie (a Mas Du Clo daughter) and was a first prize winner at many shows during the summer including the National Limousin show in Tullamore. He also heads to Northern Ireland, this time to the Frewstown herd of Derrick Frew, Co Antrim.

Meanwhile, Westmeath breeder Alan Kelly, Moate clinched the reserve senior champion with his bull, Killcastle Horace. By Siam, he is out of the homebred dam, Killcastle Beauty, and was the 2013 North East Junior Calf Champion. AG Kirton and Sons of the Ashledge herd in Severn Lodge Farm, Bewdley, UK were the buyers at €6,500.

Also reaching €6,500 was the Wilodge Vantastic son, Logrea Harry, a full brother to the junior champion, Donnelly Hernando. Bred by Michael Rattigan, Co Mayo, he has a five star rating in terminal index, replacement index, docility, carcaseweight and carcase conformation. He heads to the Glebe Park herd of John Fahy, Tuam.

• €5,200 to the Richardson family, Newtowngore, Co Leitrim for the 2013 National Male Champion, Newtown Hardman, a Ampertaine Commander son purchased by Gearoid and Padraic Kennedy to run with their Coolrain herd based in Co Laois.

• €5,100 to the Richardson family, Newtowngore for a Broadmeadows Cannon son purchased by Garrett McCullagh, Smithboro, Co Monaghan for his Kincorragh herd.

• €4,800 to the Richardson family, Newtowngore for the 2013 Senior Reserve National Champion in Tullamore, Newtown Heineken, a Dauphin son bought by Jamie Lynch, Corrandulla, Co Galway. The Richardson’s averaged €5,200 for three bulls.

• €5,000 to Noel Fennessy, Castleconnell, Co Limerick for a son of Sympa and purchased by William Knox of the Rowanhill Herd, Ballyclare, Co Antrim.

• €5,000 to Richard O’Beirne, Tuam for a Wilodge Cerberus son purchased by PJ O’Sullivan, Valentia Island.

• €4,500 to Michael Fox, Athenry for a Sympa son bought by Sean Hanley, Lisnaria, Co Roscommon.

• €4,300 to Gerard Davis, Co Longford, for a son of Vivaldi, bred by Brendan Clancy, Mullagh and bought by Patrick Kennedy, Athenry. He has a terminal index of €133 and replacement index of €191.

• €4,200 to John Hickey, Thurles, Co Tipperary for Brookland Hugo bought by Martin Moran, Craughwell.

• €4,100 to Trevor Masterson, Co Wexford for a son of Galbally Danastic (a Wilodge Vantastic son), bought by John Kelly, Moydow, Co Longford.

• €4,050 to Thomas Henry, Mostrim, Co Longford, for a son of Haltcliffe Dancer bought by Patrick Quinn, Kinvara, Galway.

• €3,800 to Michael Kinane, Ballyglass, Co Tipperary, for a Wilodge Tonka son bought by Pat Stritch, Ballina, Co Tipperary.

• €3,700 to Pat Brennan, Ballylinan, Co Laois for a Sympa son, bought by David Connor, Mountrath.

• €3,600 to Teleri Thomas for a Wilodge Cerberus son bought by Philip O’Sullivan, Tralee, Co Kerry. He has a terminal index of €137 and a replacement index of €207.

• €3,600 to David Abbott for a Fieldson Alfy son bought by Larry McDonnell, Moydow, Co Longford.

• €3,600 to John Kenny, Dunkerrin for a Fieldson Alfy son bought by Seamus Greally, Nenagh.

• €3,500 to Gerard Davis, Ballinalee, Co Longford, for an Acajou son, purchased by James Muldowney, Woodsgift, Co Kilkenny.

• €3,500 for the Baileys Darwin son, Baileys Hugo 2, purchased by John Harvey, Newry.

• €3,300 to Michael Hanlon, Dring, Co Longford for Ashbrook Hercules purchased by Patrick Kealy, Moate.

• €3,300 to Gerry Walsh, Ballina for a Ampertaine Commander son bought by Larry Prendiville, Killucan, Co Westmeath

• €3,250 to John Hickey, Co Tipperary for Wilodge Cerberus son bought by Anne McCracken of the Gazzy herd in Armagh.

• €3,200 to James Moore, Co Limerick for a Wilodge Tonka son, bought by Michael Enright, Tarbert, Co Kerry.

• €3,200 to Patrick Bruen, Elphin, for a son of Wilodge Vantastic with back-breeding to Cloughhead Lord and Ferry. He has a terminal index of €143 and a replacement