Pedigree Hall of Fame 2019: bovine recipients

The 17th National Hall of Fame awards took place earlier this month at the Sheraton Hotel in Athlone. The event, which hosts 400 guests from across the sector, aims to highlight a breeder’s contribution, dedication and commitment to a breed, which in many cases spans a lifetime. Given the dropping of the RDS champion of champions awards earlier this year, this event now stands as the final event to recognise breeders of such calibre.

The event was the result of stellar work of National Hall of Fame awards CEO Michael Flanagan, his son Oliver and the many generous sponsors he recruits.

This year’s recipients have all in some way made a contribution to improving each of their particular breeds. This week, we focus on the bovine sector, while next week we will focus on the ovine winners.

Patsy Keenan and Breeda McWeeney, Irish Angus Cattle Society.

The Irish Angus Cattle Society was founded by a number of breeders over 50 years ago initially under the auspices of the Department of Agriculture, and run from its offices in Cavan.

This changed in 1999 when the society decided to run its own business, with Patsy Keenan and Breeda McWeeney appointed to run the office.

During their tenure, the society has seen registrations increase from fewer than 2,500 annually to over 6,500 in 2018. It would be easy to overlook their contribution because they work so quietly and efficiently in the background, giving assistance and guidance to members; to the council, to the executive and presidents alike. It is a measure of the esteem in which Patsy and Breeda are held by council that their selection for this award was unanimous.

Sean Sherman, Castletown House, Castletown, Donaghmore, Co Laois.

Sean recognized the value and potential of Belgian Blue genetics when he purchased his first pedigree stock bull in 2001 to run with the commercial suckler herd on the home farm. In 2008, Sean with his wife Helen decided to progress to pedigree breeding. Today, the pedigree herd has developed significantly, with some very well researched bloodlines used to be mindful of the different market outlets for Belgian Blue-bred cattle.

In recent years, Sean, in his capacity as breed secretary, has meticulously steered the society through choppy waters with a safe pair of hands.

Kevin Maguire, Eskeroom, Dunderry, Navan, Co Meath.

Originally hailing from Ballyconnell in Co Cavan from a family of 16, Kevin moved to Dunderry in 1991 after buying a farm there. He still lives and farms there with his wife Teresa and five children. He set up the Riversdale Charolais herd in 2001. His first major success in the show ring was at the Royal Meath Show in 2005 where he secured the overall Charolais champion title. He has since gone on to win many prizes at numerous agricultural shows across the country. In 2007, a bull bred by Kevin won the overall male champion at the society’s national show. Then in 2011, Kevin won the reserve junior male calf champion title with the homebred bull Riversdale General. Earlier this year, Kevin was re-elected to council at the society’s AGM, topping the poll once again. This will be his third term on council.

He has held the position of society president for the last three years, stepping down earlier this year after serving the maximum term. Kevin is also the current president of Charolais International, elected at last year’s AGM in Sweden. His presidency will coincide with the World Charolais Technical Congress, which will be held in Ireland this August.

John Clyne, Rathcline Rd, Lanesboro, Co Longford.

John married his beloved wife the late Hannah Shea in August 1973 and was married for 43 years until Hannah passed away in 2016. They built and lived at their family home on the Rathcline Rd outside Lanesboro. During all this time John was actively farming by buying in store cattle and happened to attend a show and sale at Gort Mart in 1998. It was there that he purchased his first show animal, a Charolais crossbred bullock.

The first show John exhibited at was in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, and since then he has become a famous figure on the commercial cattle show scene, competing in shows such as Athlone, Roscommon, Longford, Virginia, Bailieborough, Ballinrobe and Strokestown to name but a few. John has won an abundance of prizes and show championships but his proudest moment was when he won the Moyvalley Meats €2,000 commercial factory bullock class at the National Livestock Show in Tullamore in 2017.

Sam Heatrick, Annareagh, Glaslough, Co Monagahan.

Glaslough Herefords was established in 1951 with the purchase of a cow and heifer calf from the late John P McKiernan. From this purchase the herd has grown over the years to approximately 30 breeding females today. The herd has been built up over the years by purchasing good stock bulls. Over the years bulls have been sold to Clarecastle AI Station, Castleisland AI Station, Bandon AI Station and Dovea Genetics. The Glaslough herd has provided stock bulls to several pedigree herds throughout Ireland and Northern Ireland.

In the 1990s, the Blackwater herd prefix was established in Northern Ireland. This herd had success winning championships and achieving top prizes at the sales and also selling Blackwater Lad to Dovea Genetics. Through the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and to date, Glaslough Herefords has exhibited at all local shows, as well as the national show in Tullamore. Several championships and interbreed championships were won at these shows.

Richard Whelan, Twolagh, Clonard, Co Meath.

Five decades of pedigree breeding with a distinguished contribution as Director of the Association Richard Whelan’s contribution to the progression of IHFA members and the wider cattle breeding sector in Ireland is timeless. He registered the Lumville prefix in 1972 and farmed near Edenderry.

With his wife Kate the family moved to a greenfield site near Clonard in County Meath in 1995 from where they continued to progress and develop the herd.

Over the years investments in select cow families were made, the best of AI breeding was used, flushing was practised to great effect and Richard exhibited at many shows winning prominent national titles.

Richard is one of the two IHFA representatives on the board of ICBF. He is also an IHFA representative on the Animal Health Ireland Industry Implementation Groups. As a proven top-class breeder, he manages to bring a perspective which respects the role of scientific data and the role of innate cattle breeding/stockmanship skills in making improvements in breeding each generation.

Eddie Brennan, Coon East, Coon, Co Kilkenny.

The foundation of Eddie’s herd came from the Ballymackeogh Salers herd in 2004, with the purchase of a stock bull and nine heifers to start his herd “Woodview Salers”. The Salers colour, shape and style were some of the first characteristics that attracted Eddie to the breed. Over the years, Eddie has attended most regional shows, showing his herd of Salers.

Eddie has served on the council for the last ten years and is now chairman for the past three years. In the future he would like to continue his work with the Salers breed and hopefully in the years ahead get the opportunity to breed a few champions.

Canon Michael Spelman, Aghamore, Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo.

Canon Spelman established his Woodfield Shorthorn herd in 1987 with the purchase of foundation females from both the local Lurgan herd and Logboy herd. Some of the best cow families from those early acquisitions were the Molly, Daffodil, Tonia and Gemma lines. Over the years he always selected the best genetics available and endeavoured to breed top-quality Shorthorns. He was also a founding member of the local Moyside Shorthorn Breeders Club which was formed in July 2004. He very kindly sponsored a perpetual trophy which is still in use at the annual Moyside club sale every October.

Liam Waldron, Scrigg, Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo.

Liam found his foundation female on the farm of Gerry Donnelly, Ballinasloe, Co Galway, and duly purchased Lowland Kersey. This Donner-sired heifer was out of Corah Heather and thus the Riverbank Herd was founded in 1990. Liam’s first calf from this Simmental cow, Hurtig bull calf Riverbank Bimbo, was registered in 1991. Liam used all AI in the early years and bulls such as Hurtig, Gretnahouse Supersonic, Dirnanean Nuggett and Enfield Benz were used. Liam has regularly shown his cattle at various club shows and national classes and has also been a keen supporter of society sales. He is also a keen supporter of the National Test Centre at Tully. Liam has on two occasion’s topped the performance test at Tully with Riverbank Pedro and Riverbank Rover.