The August bank holiday has always been a big day on the calendar for the small village of Cloone, Co Leitrim. This year was certainly no different as a huge crowd descended on the village for the 30th anniversary of its show. The weather stayed dry and Pedigree entries were up on previous years, making for competitive fair. However Commercial stock numbers were down, but what did compete was of great quality.
Supreme Champion
David and Marshal Abbott, Drumcrow, Killeshandra, Co Cavan continued their successful run on the show circuit with their well-muscled six-year-old Limousin cow Killycroney Heron. Heron claimed the overall champion Limousin on the day along with going on to win the overall champion of the show. She is sired by ACAJOU (AJZ) and out of a FAIGNANT (FGN) bred dam.
The judges deliberating over there selection for the overall interbreed champion of the show @FJ_Pedigree pic.twitter.com/qxatfrd2zK
— FJ Beef (@FJBeef) August 6, 2018
Hereford
The McKeirnan family, Corlismore House, Corlismore, Co Cavan took both the champion and reserve in a highly competitive Hereford section along with taking the best non continental of the show for their two-and-a-half-year-old stock bull and home-bred heifer.
Charolais
The John McGovern memorial cup stayed local as it was awarded to the McGovern family of Cloone for their stylish 15-month-old bull Loughros Norris. He is sired by Bova banker and out of a CF51 dam. Reserve Champion went to Sean Moreton, Sheafield, Carrick-on-Shannon Co Leitrim.
Charolais championship class at Cloone show @FJ_Pedigree pic.twitter.com/IxGRQkSsLL
— FJ Beef (@FJBeef) August 6, 2018
Limousin
Runner-up to champion breeders David and Marshal Abbott in the Limousin section was Michael McKeirnan, Augharan Co Leitrim for his October 2017-born heifer bred by Ballinloan Jaegerbomb
Limousin championship selection at Cloone show @FJ_Pedigree pic.twitter.com/oWVDUITMnK
— FJ Beef (@FJBeef) August 6, 2018
Angus
Overall Angus champion was awarded to Tom Mulligan, Currycramp, Dromad Co Leitrim for his cow and calf pair. Tom's September 2017-born bull also took the reserve champion Angus prize.
The Aberdeen Angus society also held their overall Connacht championship on the day and the Crowe family from Mohill, Co Leitrim took the honours here for their Coney Island-bred heifer.
Simmental
The Simmental champion and reserve rosettes were both presented to the Connolly family from Drumreily, Co Leitrim. Their Curaheen Wakeman-bred bull calf took champion, with the reserve awarded to their six-year-old home-bred cow.
Commercial
John Daly, Arvagh, Co Cavan took home the overall Commercial champion trophy for his classy heifer sired by TVR out of a Belgium Blue cross dam.