This year’s Christmas Belles sale hosted 53 Texel ewes from the Clewbay and Enniscrone flocks of Jimmy Garrivan and Ronan Gallagher, including a guest consignment of 12 ewes from Neville Myles.

It was once again the Enniscrone Texels who took home the prize of top-priced ewe of the sale with €3,200 for a Tophill Wall Street daughter. This ewe attracted a lot of attention before the sale and was sold carrying a single to Stainton Coca Cola, who was purchased in Lanark this year for £16,000.

Lot 18 sold for €3,050 for Neville Myles, Ballyshannon.

Following close behind this at €3,050 was Neville Myles with his Strathbogie Yes Sir daughter out of a Castlecairn Vavavoom ewe. This ewe is a full-sister to Silverhill Bushtucker, who sold for €15,000 at the 2018 Blessington sale, and sold in-lamb with twins to Garngour Alabama.

Next highest price also went to the Myles consignment with €2,200 being paid for another Strathbogie Yes Sir daughter. This ewe was flushed this year producing 20 Grade 1 embryos and sold in-lamb with twins to Springwell Abu-Dhabi.

Ronan Gallagher took home the next top price with a Shannagh Won O Won daughter going back to a Tophill Union Jack ewe. This ewe was scanned with a single to Garngour Aerosmith.

Another ewe breaking the €2,000 barrier was a Tophill Wall Street ewe from Ronan Gallagher. This ewe was scanned with a single to Garngour Aerosmith and sold for €2,050.

Jimmy Garrivan’s top price went to a Teiglum Young Gun daughter going back to a Shannagh Won O Won ewe carrying a single lamb to Blue Gate Bravo. She sold for €1,500.

Another full-sister scanned carrying twins sold for €1,400 on the day.

€990 average

The sale achieved a 100% clearance with an average price of €990/ewe being paid. Ronan Gallagher averaged €1,109 for 21 ewes, Jimmy Garrivan averaged €772 for 20 ewes and Neville Myles averaged €1,149 for 12 ewes.

A number of recipient ewes carrying pedigree Texel embryos were sold between €450-650/ewe. Ronan Gallagher also sold four recipient ewes with single pedigree Sufflok lambs at foot with the ewe/lamb outfits making €500, €520, €550 and €580 each.

  • For full sale report and photos, see this week's Irish Farmers Journal, in shops on Thursday.