The show of the Irish Texel Sheep Society’s premier sale took place on Friday evening, with Monaghan breeders John, Colm and Michael McHugh claiming top spot.

Their ram lamb born in February 2020 ticked all the boxes for young judge Aaron Myles from Co Donegal. The stunning ram named Greenhill Dance Monkey secured top place in the index class before securing the male championship followed by the supreme championship.

This classy prospect was sired by 2019 ram of the year Kilclammon Brody, which was purchased at the 2018 premier for €5,000. Out of a homebred ewe, her breeding contains Thornville Alberto, reserve male champion at the all-Ireland finals in 2018. Following a bidding war the price eventually settled at €6,500, selling to the judge Aaron Myles.

The outfit didn’t stop there, selling a further three rams for €2,600, €1500 and €1,500. Hitting the upper of these was another son of Brody, this time back on an Anglezarke Uno ewe.

Claiming first place in the open ram class, reserve male champion and reserve supreme champion was Larahirl Danny Devito from John Greene, Co Donegal. This February 2020-born ram is a son of the 16,000gns Procters Cocktail and out of a dam by Allanfauld Am the Man.

Due to the changing of the format at this year’s sale and the champion and reserve going in ballot order, Danny Devito was one of the last of the 350 sheep through the ring to be sold. Despite this, there were a number of interested buyers who drove his selling price to €2,400.

His full-brother entered the ring directly after and also proved in high demand, selling for €3,000.

Male and supreme champion from McHughs which sold for €6,500 and reserve male and reserve supreme from Greenes which sold for €2,400 .\ Mullagh Photography

Taking home a price of €6,000 was Neville Myles of the Silver Hill Fock in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal. Though the ram lamb was unable to be shown due to Neville’s son Aaron judging, this didn’t stop people from seeing the potential. Born March 2020, the ram lab was sired by Sportsman A Star and is out of a sister of the 15,000gns Bushtrucker.

The Myles family also sold a January-born lamb by Auldhouseburn Capaldi for €1,600.

Ciaran Heraghty secured a bid of €4,200 for his ram lamb Tullyhill Desert Eagle. This son of Garngour Alabama is out of a homebred ewe sired by Fordafourie Windfall.

Ram lamb class

The fourth prize-winner in the ram lamb class was Emlach Derrick from Fergal Ó Sé. This well-grown February lamb is a son of Straghbogie Ya Belter with the dam an ET brother to the 2017 reserve national champion. Having met his reserve, he left the ring at a price of €3,800.

Ó Sé was also sold the ram lamb just before Derrick, Emlach Demophan, for €1,700. This one was a son of Sportsman Belter and out of a Teiglum Young Gun.

Securing a bid of €2,000 was Robert Walker’s ram lamb Kilcurley Dawson. This 15,000gns Harestone Commander son is out of a Springwell-bred ewe and stood second in the LambPlus class.

Michael Power exhibited his first ram at the premier and walked home with a cheque for €1,900. His February 2020-born ram, Ballyhibben Dancing Brave, was sired by Sportsman A Star and is out of an imported ewe from the Kingspark flock.

Top of Wexford-based John Neville’s rams was Thornville Double O Seven who hit the market at €1,800. This ram lamb came fourth in the LambPlus class and is a son of Knock Bantastic and out of an Auldhouseburn ewe purchased for 5,200gns.