The Irish Vendéen Sheep Society held its annual premier sale last Saturday in Roscommon Mart. This was the first of the Irish sheep society premiers to take place and did so under strict COVID-19 restrictions, with buyers also offered the option of online bidding.
While no pre-sale show took place because of these restrictions, inspections were carried out by husband and wife team Oliver and Claire Keaskin from the Rouge society to ensure a good standard was upheld.
Despite these restrictions, the sale report reads better than has been seen in a number of years. A massive 90% clearance was achieved on the almost 70 lots present.
Top price was a call of €1,000 which was hit on two occasions. First up was a ram lamb from the flock of John Lynch, Ballinalee, Co Longford, called Ballinascraw Va Va Voom.
Joint top-priced ram Ballinascraw Va Va Voom which sold for €1,000.
This December-born ram carried five stars on both the terminal and replacement indices and is out of the same dam that bred the 2019 premier sale champion.
Matching him at the money was Cheryl O’Brien, Kildorrery, Co Cork, with her January-born ram lamb Quitrent Valiant. Another double five-star sheep, sire of Valiant is the homebred Quitrent Seymour who was all-Ireland shearling ram champion in 2019.
Not far behind and taking home €980 for the ram lamb Noggus Viking was Ciaran Coughlan, Ferbane, Co Offaly. Stars again weren’t a problem, with five on both terminal and replacement indices, while his pedigree includes a number of all-Ireland prizewinners.
Shay Kennedy from Co Waterford made his journey worthwhile when he secured a price of €820 for Windy Gap Trapper. This shearling ram carried five stars on the replacement index and is a son of Ballinascraw Springsteen.
The aforementioned John Lynch was back in the money when he sold his shearling ram Ballinascraw Tod for €760. Homebred on both sides, this April 2019 ram is sired by Ballinascraw Rolf.
Females
In the female section, a top price of €640 was achieved by Eileen Foster for Rosskey Tilly. This shearling ewe is sired by Ballinascraw Regal and carried four stars on the replacement index.
The Co Cavan woman also secured the second-top female price of €560 for Rooskey Tasmin. This December 2018-born ewe was sired by Ballinascraw Rolf.
Top of the ewe lambs was a call of €410 for Moneygold Vara. This December 2019-born ewe was bred and exhibited by Brendan and Carmel Rooney, Grange, Co Sligo. Sired by Carane Thunderstruck, she is out of a Ballinascraw Jasper-bred dam.
Just behind this at €400 was Martin McMenamin who sold Sessiagh Verdad for €400. This January 2020-born ewe lamb carried five stars on both the terminal and replacement indices and is a daughter of Moneygold Taj.
The Irish Vendéen Sheep Society held its annual premier sale last Saturday in Roscommon Mart. This was the first of the Irish sheep society premiers to take place and did so under strict COVID-19 restrictions, with buyers also offered the option of online bidding.
While no pre-sale show took place because of these restrictions, inspections were carried out by husband and wife team Oliver and Claire Keaskin from the Rouge society to ensure a good standard was upheld.
Despite these restrictions, the sale report reads better than has been seen in a number of years. A massive 90% clearance was achieved on the almost 70 lots present.
Top price was a call of €1,000 which was hit on two occasions. First up was a ram lamb from the flock of John Lynch, Ballinalee, Co Longford, called Ballinascraw Va Va Voom.
Joint top-priced ram Ballinascraw Va Va Voom which sold for €1,000.
This December-born ram carried five stars on both the terminal and replacement indices and is out of the same dam that bred the 2019 premier sale champion.
Matching him at the money was Cheryl O’Brien, Kildorrery, Co Cork, with her January-born ram lamb Quitrent Valiant. Another double five-star sheep, sire of Valiant is the homebred Quitrent Seymour who was all-Ireland shearling ram champion in 2019.
Not far behind and taking home €980 for the ram lamb Noggus Viking was Ciaran Coughlan, Ferbane, Co Offaly. Stars again weren’t a problem, with five on both terminal and replacement indices, while his pedigree includes a number of all-Ireland prizewinners.
Shay Kennedy from Co Waterford made his journey worthwhile when he secured a price of €820 for Windy Gap Trapper. This shearling ram carried five stars on the replacement index and is a son of Ballinascraw Springsteen.
The aforementioned John Lynch was back in the money when he sold his shearling ram Ballinascraw Tod for €760. Homebred on both sides, this April 2019 ram is sired by Ballinascraw Rolf.
Females
In the female section, a top price of €640 was achieved by Eileen Foster for Rosskey Tilly. This shearling ewe is sired by Ballinascraw Regal and carried four stars on the replacement index.
The Co Cavan woman also secured the second-top female price of €560 for Rooskey Tasmin. This December 2018-born ewe was sired by Ballinascraw Rolf.
Top of the ewe lambs was a call of €410 for Moneygold Vara. This December 2019-born ewe was bred and exhibited by Brendan and Carmel Rooney, Grange, Co Sligo. Sired by Carane Thunderstruck, she is out of a Ballinascraw Jasper-bred dam.
Just behind this at €400 was Martin McMenamin who sold Sessiagh Verdad for €400. This January 2020-born ewe lamb carried five stars on both the terminal and replacement indices and is a daughter of Moneygold Taj.
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