The 2026 National Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers (IPAV) Novice Rostrum Auctioneer competition has been won by Joe Gibbons hailing from Ballinasloe, Co Galway.

The event was held at Tattersalls Ireland, Ratoath, Co Meath, on Friday 6 March and was organised by the Young Professionals Network (YPN) of IPAV.

The Novice Rostrum Auctioneer Competition is an initiative of IPAV’s Young Professionals Network, “providing a platform for emerging professionals to develop their auctioneering expertise and gain valuable experience in a live auction setting,” according to IPAV.

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Gibbons works in Ballinasloe livestock mart office and he was one of seven individuals who took to the rostrum to auction a series of lots to display their auctioneering ability, confidence and presentation skills.

IPAV has said that Joe displayed a “superb performance on the rostrum, impressing judges with his clarity, pace, and command of the auction process.”

Gibbons was presented with the Ron Duff Memorial Cup and as part of his prize Joe will travel to the America’s Auction Academy in Texas, USA, where he will undergo intensive auctioneering training with renowned auctioneer Mike Jones and his team.

Daragh Walsh and Elliott Potterton were runners-up in the competition which also featured competitors Catherine Mannion Cooney, Padraig Beglin, Seán Murphy and Ciara Lally, who IPAV has said all “demonstrated impressive skill and confidence throughout the competition.”

IPAV board member, Niamh Giffney acknowledged all competitors for their performances. “Once again, this was an intensely fought competition for which all competitors deserve great credit,” she stated.

YPN chair, Fergal Troy spoke following the announcement: “Joe and his fellow competitors have displayed enormous talent and ambition and undoubtedly have great careers ahead of them in the profession.”