It was certainly a case of Van Gogh working his artistry at the Irish Charolais Cattle Society’s Christmas Cracker show and sale of bulls in Elphin Mart on Saturday.

The famous artist's name rang through twice, as both the highest and second-highest bull went under that name.

Overall, trade was brisk, especially for the top-tier bulls, as 57 bulls sold to an average of €7,230, resulting in a 76% clearance. A total of 10 bulls went for export to Northern Ireland.

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Rosanna Van Gogh selling for €15,500

Prices peaked at €15,500 for Rosanna Van Gogh, the property of Pat Stephens from Tullow, Co Carlow.

Crowned as the overall senior champion in the pre-sale show by judge Alan Drysdale from Scotland, this May 2024-born bull is sired by Rosanna Olmetta and out of Rosanna Lillybell, a daughter of the famous Rosanna Daisybell.

This single carrier of the Q204X gene carried a nice balance of figures, including a four-star replacement index of €123 and was acquired by a top-end suckler enterprise in Co Cavan.

Goldstar Van Gogh ET selling for €14,500

Selling at €14,500 was the supreme intermediate champion Goldstar Van Gogh ET. Sired by the hugely popular French bull Neptune and out of Goldstar Tartine, he was bred and exhibited by Martin Ryan and family from Thurles, Co Tipperary.

Boasting a single copy of both the F94L and Q204X genes, as well as a terminal index of €147, he will now join Dovea Genetics elite AI stud in Co Tipperary.

Clenagh2 Viper selling for €14,000

Next up at €14,000 was the reserve senior champion of the show Clenagh2 Viper.

Sired by the French sire Military and out of Clenagh Royalty, a Goldstar Ludwig daughter, he was bred and exhibited by Barry Quinn from Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co Clare.

Carrying one copy of the profit gene and coming in at 6.4% on beef cows, he was snapped up by Marcella Phelan from Co Laois.

Noble Valhalla selling for €10,400

Noble Valhalla from the herd of Harry Noble in Co Longford was the first bull to taste €10,400.

A son of the French-bred stock bull Noble Twinnings, his dam is a daughter of the old breed favorite Organdi.

Born in July 2024, he ranks in the top 20% of the breed across a number of traits and will now join a suckler herd in Co Cavan.

Clonmahon Vadim ET selling for €10,400

That price of €10,400 would be hit on two more occasions.

First up at that money was the reserve intermediate champion Clonmahon Vadim ET.

Bred by Eddie Daly from Summerhill, Co Meath, this September 2024-born son of Neptune had enjoyed a decorative show career, picking up numerous awards this summer.

Backed up by a pedigree steeped with some of the breed greats in Oldstone Egbert, Texan-Gie and Bourgogne, this single carrier of the Q204X gene was purchased by a suckler herd in Co Mayo.

Brocca Viking selling for €10,400

The final lot to sell for €10,400 was the reserve junior champion Brocca Viking.

Bred by John Barry Moran from Athlone, Co Westmeath, he is sired by Corrie Alan and out of the Fury Action daughter Brocca Ophelia ET.

Despite being scarce on stars, this September 2024-born bull had lots of fingers wagging, as Michael Connellan secured him for his prestige suckler herd in Co Roscommon.

Aughnacreevy Victorious ET selling for €10,200

There was no shortage of customers for the quality bulls, as the first-prizewinner Aughnacreevy Victorious ET, bred by Fergal and Liam McDermott from Killeshandra, Co Cavan, went away at €10,200.

Sired by the great CF52, this single carrier of the F94L gene packed a massive terminal index of €171, as well as below-average calving figures, making him an irresistible lot for Arthur Judge in Co Offaly.

Tobergal Verdum ET selling for €10,000

Two more bulls would reach the €10,000 mark. Tobergal Verdum ET, bred by Jamie Heffernan from Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, was the first to go under the hammer for the five-figure sum.

Sired by CF52, his dam Lisnagre Lily goes back to Lisnagre Elite and Major.

Catching the buyer's eye was Verdum’s two copies of the F94L gene, giving him that extra edge in the sale ring, before he eventually found his new home on a suckler holding in Co Clare.

The first-prizewinner Cloonslanor Voodoo ET also knocked on the door at €10,000.

Sired by the society bull Neptune and out of Goldstar Shirley Temple ET, he was bred by Cormac Dolan from Strokestown, Co Roscommon.

Having the final call on him was local man David Kelly, leaving Voodoo with a short journey to travel on Saturday evening.

Read all about Saturday’s sale in this week’s Irish Farmers Journal .