UK judge Owen Tunney heaped praise on the standard of cattle at the 2025 Irish Aberdeen Angus Association calf show, held at Mid-Tipp Mart, Thurles, on Saturday 22 November.

While no easy task, he made short work of the job at hand, completing two young handler classes, 10 calf classes and five championships in less than four hours.

The day started with a bumper entry of young handlers across both the senior and junior classes. These classes were kindly sponsored by Animal Farmacy, which provided a goodie bag for each of the participants. Securing top spot in the senior section was Adam Kearney from Co Clare, while the junior section accolade went to Conor McCarthy from Co Limerick.

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Onto the calf classes and it proved a day of dreams for Cappawhite breeder Michael Sheahan, who went on to claim the supreme Angus Beef Ireland championship for the third consecutive year.

Securing the top spot, having come out of the Zurich junior female championship, was Luddenmore Ebony A679. This December 2024-born Drumhill Lord Highway daughter descends from the famous Hoff Ebony line. This win marked a super debut for the stylish young heifer.

Commenting on his champion, judge Tunney said: “As soon as she came into the ring early on you couldn’t see past her. She just has great legs, depth of body, with a super Angus head and ears that just shout out to you to look at her and she will just make a lovely Angus cow.”

Joe Tighe Memorial cup

This year’s show also saw the introduction of the Joe Tighe Memorial cup, which was awarded by the Tighe family to the day’s supreme champion. Coincidentally, the very first bull sold by this year’s recipient, the Luddenmore herd, was purchased by Joe many years ago.

Securing the Angus Beef Ireland reserve supreme champion and following the supreme out of the junior female championship, was Lemonfield Prudence B227 from the McCarthy family in Co Limerick. This February 2025-born heifer is sired by the homebred AI bull Lemonfield Uxas and out of the homebred dam Lemonfield Prudence X111.

Tunney added: “She came out easy on top of her class, another beautiful Angus female. Just giving away a bit of power to today’s champion, but definitely a heifer you’d be proud to own.”

Autumn Advantage bull sale

In the senior male championship, top placing went the way of Tara Jubilee Eric A072 from Malachy Tighe, Co Meath. This September 2024-born Stouphill Mr Perry son went on to top the Autumn Advantage bull sale at €8,400, which was held in conjunction with the calf show.

Standing reserve in this championship was Luddenmore Topnotch from Michael Sheahan. This August 2024-born bull is sired by the herd’s homebred stock bull, Luddenmore Ebony Boy.

Senior female champion went the way of Eustace and Deirdre Burke with Clontead Mandy A448. This September 2024-born heifer is sired by Rawburn Boss Hogg and from the same line as the 2022 supreme champion. Taking reserve honours here was Luddenmore with Fleur A663. This August 2024-born heifer is again sired by Luddenmore Ebony Boy.

Junior male champion

Liss Aberdeen Angus took top spot in the Zurich junior male section with their bull, Liss Megastar B417. This February-born bull calf was bred and exhibited by John and Sean McEnroe, and sired by their homebred stock bull Liss Dingle V936. Finally, reserve in this section was Luddenmore Faeroe B688 from Michael Sheahan. A son of Carruthers Earl, this February 2025-born calf is from the Fleur line founded at Netherton.