A special sheep sale held on Wednesday in Roscommon Mart started Roscommon Lamb Festival on a positive note. The festival takes place until Monday 7 May.

Weather has hit performance of spring lambs this year, but, despite this, there was a good showing of spring lambs.

Some pens showed the effects of the difficult weather and this was also evident in a wide differential in prices paid.

The best-quality fleshed lambs weighing 44kg to 50kg sold on average from €140 to €146, with a couple of pens selling to €150. Some lighter but excellent-quality lambs, some of which were prizewinnners, sold from €136 to €142, while the general run of lambs weighing 40kg to 43kg was €125 to €135. Some aged lambs and those lacking flesh sold back to €115 to €120.

Cull ewes were an excellent trade, with lowland ewes with a good cover of flesh selling on average from €110 to €135, with a few lots rising to €146.

Prices for ewes with lambs at foot varied on quality. Twin lamb lots sold from €180 to €265 while single lamb lots sold from €120 to €150 for aged lots and up to €180 for ewes with strong lambs at foot. Yearling hoggets with lambs sold from €150 to €190.