It was a sale of two halves at the Irish Limousin Society’s premier May show and sale in Roscrea on Monday last, which saw most of the senior bulls meeting a tougher trade than that of the juniors.
Despite this, the sale highs achieved with the junior bulls helped to boost average sale price up on the year. In total, 54 of the 63 bulls present sold to average an impressive €3,871.
It was the sale’s junior champion Killcastle Lenn from the herd of Alan and Paul Kelly, Moate, Co Westmeath, who led the charge when he sold for the top price of €12,600.
A 14-month-old son of Haltcliffe Dancer, Lenn is out of homebred Wilodge Tonka dam Killcastle Gem. Carrying five stars for a number of traits, Lenn was purchased by show judge Richard Priestley, who runs the 90-cow Brontemoor pedigree herd.
Reserve senior champion Clonbonny Legend. \ Alfie Shaw
The reserve senior champion Clonbonny Legend was secured by Down breeder Peter McKay for the second-top price of €6,900. An eye-catching son of Ampertaine Commander, Legend was bred by Tony Hartnett, Athlone, Co Westmeath.
Legend was awarded all-Ireland junior champion and reserve overall all-Ireland male champion at Tullamore Show in 2016.
John McInerney, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co Clare, was out in front for the senior championship with Drummin Kodaline. Kodaline is an embryo-born son of Wilodge Vantastic and the renowned Mas Du Clo daughter Drummin Cliona.
This September 2015-born bull is a full brother to Drummin J-Lo, the heifer that recorded the top price at the International Limousin Congress in 2016 when she sold for €16,200. However, Kodaline failed to meet his reserve and left the ring unsold.
Senior champion Drummin Kodaline. \ Alfie Shaw
Elite Leo Et, a Powerhouse Italic son, was crowned reserve junior champion by judge Richard Priestley. This February 2016-born bull was bred by Ed Tynan, Mountrath, Co Laois, and is out of the successful show cow Elite Hostess Et, who claimed the overall championship at Tullamore in 2014. Again, Leo failed to meet his reserve and went unsold.
Tommy O’Harte of Harte Peat, Clones, Co Monaghan, acquired the very stylish young bull The Grove Farm Lord to add to his recently established Coraghy pedigree herd.
Born March 2016, Lord is a son of Ampertaine Foreman, with Bolide and Grahams Unbeatable also in his back breeding. Bred by Bernard Garrett, Ballyconnell, Co Cavan, Lord was placed first in his class in the pre-sale show before selling for the third-top price of €6,000.
The Grove Farm Lord. \ Alfie Shaw
Elegante Leinster, another first prize-winner, sold for €5,600. Bred by Michael Kinane, Ballyglass, Co Tipperary, the 13-month-old Leinster’s sire stack includes Wilodge Cerberus and Fieldson Alfy. Rating five stars on numerous traits, he was acquired by multi-purchaser Owain LLyr.
Mount Collins, Co Limerick, breeders Edward and Shane Sheehan accepted a closing bid of €5,100 for Caherlevoy Kaiser.
Born in August 2015, Kaiser is a son of Ampertaine Elgin and was purchased by Thomas Kerin, Bellharbour, Co Clare.
First-prizewinning Corlea Kracker from Thomas Connor, Kenagh, Co Longford, was one of two bulls to secure a bid of €5,000. This Huntershall Gladitor son goes back on a Towthorpe Dubai-bred dam and was purchased by fellow Longford man James McNally.
Matching him at the money was Powerhouse Italic son Ballinascraw Lukaku from the herd of John and Stephen Lynch, Ballinalee, Co Longford. Lukaku was born in April 2016 and sold to Tom Reilly, Keady, Co Armagh.
Females
The female trade saw a significant boost in clearance rate, with 12 of the 16 present selling to average €3,232, up nearly €100 on the year.
Topping the female prices at €4,600 was the reserve female champion Liss Karen Et from Martin Doherty, Lifford, Co Donegal. Karen is a September 2015-born daughter of Wilodge Fastrac and was purchased by a UK-based customer.
Reserve female champion and top female price Liss Karen Et. \ Alfie Shaw
Third-prizewinner Brookland Lady was purchased by Carlisle-based Steven Wilson to add to his Impulsive pedigree herd.
A January 2016-born heifer bred by John Hickey, Thurles, Co Tipperary, Lady is a daughter of Haltcliffe Gunner. This multi-starred heifer met her reserve at €4,500.
Brian Frawley, Croagh, Co Limerick, purchased the female champion Rathnestin Kimberly for €4,000 to add to his Ballylin herd.
Kimberly is a daughter of Castleview Gringo Et and Rathnestin Favourite. Bred by Raymond Bird, Dundalk, Co Louth, she sold in-calf to Keltic Handsome.
Female champion Rathnestin Kimberly. \ Alfie Shaw
Wood Road Jasmine, a Sympa daughter from imported French donor cow Claque, also realised €4,000 for breeder Noel Fennessy, Castleconnell, Co Limerick.
Also matching her at the price tag was Gary Morrissey’s Grangeford Jagger Et. Jagger is an embryo daughter of Plumtree Fantastic (S1278) and Dinmore Gemstone. She was placed second in her class and was acquired by William Shennan, North Threave Farm, Turnberr, Ayrshire, Scotland.