The County Waterford Blackface Sheep Breeders Association 85th annual show and sale took place a few weeks ago in Dungarvan Mart. Demand for a good entry of about 100 hogget/aged rams and 40 ram lambs was strong leading to a clearance rate of 92% for hogget rams.
Hoggets and ram lambs shared the spoils in terms of setting the headlines for top prices with hogget rams selling to upwards of €5,000 and ram lambs €4,000. Judge John Gildea from Co Donegal had a tough task separating the top hogget rams.
The top price of €5,150 was paid for the reserve champion exhibited by Patrick and Pat Whyte, Mountain Breeze, Cutteen, Kilrossanty, Co Waterford.
While the show champion exhibited by Jamie Daly, Graiguerush, Co Waterford, sold for €4,200.
There were a number of standout high prices paid for hogget rams with breeders Liam and Brian Whelan, Glenanore, Ballymacarbry, Co Waterford, securing €4,150, while William Drohan, Crough, Co Waterford, sold a ram for €3,020 and the Whyte’s sold another ram for €2,640.
As has been the case in many sales of Scottish Blackface rams in 2025, demand and clearance rates for lambs lagged behind hoggets. The clearance rate was 68%, with prices ranging from €200 to €4,000, and averaging at €676. Patrick and Pat Whyte secured the top price of €4,000 for a ram lamb. Other notable prices include €1,480 received by John Walsh, Furraleigh, Co Waterford, while Billy and Craig Fraher, Woodlands, Portlaw, Co Waterford, had three rams top the €1,000 mark at €1,320, €1,100 and €1,060. The judging consisted of nine classes.
The champion ram lamb shown by Brian Veale and from left Pat Whyte, Judge John Gildea and Pat Whyte
Reserve champion hogget ram shown by Brian Veale, with Pat and Patrick Whyte.
A presentation by group president Tom Vincent Walsh to Mattie Fahey, out going chairman in recognition of his long service to Waterford Sheep Breeders pictured alongside committee members.
The best pen of two ram lambs, with Billy Fraher, judge John Gildea and Craig Fraher.
The best pen of three hogget rams with (from left) Shay Walsh, Jamie Daly, Eoin Ryan, Mark Lynam and judge John Gildea.
The best pen of two hogget rams, pictured with Tommy and Brian Whelan, David Fitzgerald, Billy and Liam Whelan, Bryan Fraher and judge John Gildea.
The County Waterford Blackface Sheep Breeders Association 85th annual show and sale took place a few weeks ago in Dungarvan Mart. Demand for a good entry of about 100 hogget/aged rams and 40 ram lambs was strong leading to a clearance rate of 92% for hogget rams.
Hoggets and ram lambs shared the spoils in terms of setting the headlines for top prices with hogget rams selling to upwards of €5,000 and ram lambs €4,000. Judge John Gildea from Co Donegal had a tough task separating the top hogget rams.
The top price of €5,150 was paid for the reserve champion exhibited by Patrick and Pat Whyte, Mountain Breeze, Cutteen, Kilrossanty, Co Waterford.
While the show champion exhibited by Jamie Daly, Graiguerush, Co Waterford, sold for €4,200.
There were a number of standout high prices paid for hogget rams with breeders Liam and Brian Whelan, Glenanore, Ballymacarbry, Co Waterford, securing €4,150, while William Drohan, Crough, Co Waterford, sold a ram for €3,020 and the Whyte’s sold another ram for €2,640.
As has been the case in many sales of Scottish Blackface rams in 2025, demand and clearance rates for lambs lagged behind hoggets. The clearance rate was 68%, with prices ranging from €200 to €4,000, and averaging at €676. Patrick and Pat Whyte secured the top price of €4,000 for a ram lamb. Other notable prices include €1,480 received by John Walsh, Furraleigh, Co Waterford, while Billy and Craig Fraher, Woodlands, Portlaw, Co Waterford, had three rams top the €1,000 mark at €1,320, €1,100 and €1,060. The judging consisted of nine classes.
The champion ram lamb shown by Brian Veale and from left Pat Whyte, Judge John Gildea and Pat Whyte
Reserve champion hogget ram shown by Brian Veale, with Pat and Patrick Whyte.
A presentation by group president Tom Vincent Walsh to Mattie Fahey, out going chairman in recognition of his long service to Waterford Sheep Breeders pictured alongside committee members.
The best pen of two ram lambs, with Billy Fraher, judge John Gildea and Craig Fraher.
The best pen of three hogget rams with (from left) Shay Walsh, Jamie Daly, Eoin Ryan, Mark Lynam and judge John Gildea.
The best pen of two hogget rams, pictured with Tommy and Brian Whelan, David Fitzgerald, Billy and Liam Whelan, Bryan Fraher and judge John Gildea.
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