This year’s annual winter fair in Carrick-on-Shannon will go down as the most memorable yet, with a new sale record price achieved, along with the biggest crowd witnessed at the showgrounds over the two days.

Setting the new sale record was the junior Belgian Blue champion which sold for a massive €10,000.

€10,000 sale-topper and junior Blue champion from Chris Meehan and Niamh Oliver, with purchaser Blair Duffton and his farm manager Steven Smith. \ Tricia Kennedy

Brought out by Chris Meehan and Niamh Oliver from Charlestown, Co Mayo, the April 2019-born heifer calf was knocked down just before midnight on Monday.

Sired by Belgian Blue bull EPI, she is out of a Limouisn-bred black cow, with Blue again in the back breeding. This dam was purchased in Northern Ireland at Richardson’s sale a few years back and has already produced two Shorthorn calves which placed first at the winter fair for the last two years.

The high-seller weighed in at 330kg, meaning she sold for over €30/kg. Securing the calf, having awarded her the junior Blue championship the previous day, was judge Blair Duffton from Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Limousin calf champion for Derrick Forde, which sold for €6,300, with purchasers Jamie, Richard and Martin O’Dowd. \ Tricia Kennedy

Strong trade throughout

Overall, trade can be described as very strong throughout. The sale kicked off at 11am on Monday morning and saw a stint of 13-and-a-half hours in the auctioneer’s box, with three different auctioneers selling over 300 animals.

It proved to be a particularly lucrative sale for the top end of animals, with a total of seven animals making €5,000 or more, up from two last year.

Lot 357, a Charolais-cross heifer calf which sold for €5,000, exhibited by Kieran Flatley and TJ Duffy.

\ Tricia Kennedy

Weanling heifers again proved the most in demand, matching last year’s average of €4.70/kg. They also saw a similar clearance on the year, but the increased number of weanling heifers forward resulted in an extra 30 being sold.

Second-best price was for the overall junior Limousin champion, which sold for €6,300. This Elite Ice Cream heifer is out of a Belgian Blue cow and was brought out by Derrick Forde.

The first of four animals to hit the €5,000 mark was an April-born Charolais heifer calf, owned by TJ Duffy and the Flatley brothers. This orange CF52-sired heifer weighed 372kg and is out of a heifer purchased at Allams fatstock sale two years ago for 6,200gns.

Lot 380, which sold for €5,000, with owner Martin Harold and purchaser Niall McLoughlin. \ Tricia Kennedy

This price was matched shortly after by another Charolais heifer calf, this time from Sean Hughes. Sire behind this January-born heifer was Lanzac and she weighed 553kg.

Charolais-sired calves were flying in Carrick-on-Shannon, with the third to hit €5,000 being another Charolais. Selling this 346kg orange-and-white-coloured heifer was Martin Harold.

Last of the €5,000 bids came for a Limousin-cross heifer from John Kennedy. This stylish 450kg animal is a daughter of Lodge Hamlet.

Another high-seller in the young Charolais heifer calf entries saw the McGowan brothers selling their entry for €4,000. Their yellow heifer was a first-prizewinner in the show on Sunday.

Also selling for €4,000 was a Charolais-cross from E and P Boland with a Fiston-sired heifer.

Older heifers saw a slight decrease in the average price per kg paid, but, on the other hand, had an extra 40 sold on last year.

Lot 464, a Limousin-cross heifer calf for John Kennedy, which sold for €5,000, with purchasers The Lang Old Bar Syndicate. \ Tricia KennedyLOt 464 Limousin cross Heifer calf for John Kennedy Sold €5,000 with Purchasers The Lang Old Bar Syndicate. \ Tricia Kennedy

Top of the lots here was the reserve senior Limousin champion, which, having opened at €3,000, sold for €4,000. Lot 113 weighed 580kg and is sired by Wilodge Joskins.

Top of the older Charolais heifers was lot 43, a powerful 19-month-old heifer from John Clyne, which sold for €3,500.

Weanling bull calves across breeds ranged from €1,000 to €3,300, with an average price just shy of €1,500 for 47 sold.

Topping this section was the first-prizewinner in the Limousin bull calf section from the McPaddens from Rhode, Co Offaly, for their January-born EBY calf. This stylish young bull heads to Wales for breeding.

Second-highest in the section was a bid of €2,700 for the senior Limousin champion from Shane Giltinane, Limerick. This 13-month-old bull weighed 644kg and is a son of Craigatoke Jack.

Other top prices

  • Securing a price of €3,500 was lot 538, a 316kg Lodge Hamlet-sired heifer, from Gerard Keville.
  • Lot 544, an all-black 248kg heifer again sired by Lodge Hamlet, sold for €3,100.
  • Lot 390, a 330kg yellow heifer by Fiston, sold for €3,000.
  • Lot 156, a red roan April 2018-born Limousin-cross heifer, sold for €2,900.
  • Lot 474, a March 2019-born Limousin heifer, sold €2,850.
  • Lot 370, another Fiston-sired orange heifer, placed third in class and weighing 405kg, sold for €2,850.
  • Lot 297, a 444kg Limousin-cross third-prizewinner, sold for €2,600.
  • Lot 428, a KJB heifer out of a Blue cow and born in April 2019, sold for €2,500.
  • Lot 486, a first-prizewinner in the Limousin female 450kg or under class, secured a price of €2,500. Sired by Lodge Hamlet, she weighed 409kg.
  • Lot 318, a Belgian Blue-sired bull calf, got the first of the Blue male classes going, selling for €2,500. This red and white bull is out of a purebred Limousin dam.
  • Lot 155, a purebred Limousin heifer by Lodge Hamlet, born October 2018 and weighing 440kg, sold for €2,500.
  • Lot 157, a 591kg daughter of EBY, was knocked down at €2,500.
  • Lot 101, a first-prizewinner by TVR and weighing 825kg, sold for €2,500.

    • Lot 360 for P and E Boland, which sold for €4,000.

    \ Tricia Kennedy

    Young handlers

    The young handler class was one of the best on show on the Sunday, with large numbers of spectators looking on.

    This interest also followed through to sale day, with dozens of young breeders willing to spend money to acquire the animal of their choice. This gives great reassurance to the industry for the future.

    Young handler champion Jack Cronin with judges Nicola Farrell and Sinead Conry. \ Tricia Kennedy

    Other champions

    Nigel Matchett from Portadown in Northern Ireland awarded the first championship of the day to John Lynch for his Angus-cross heifer.

    In the Charolais section, judge Blair Duffton tapped out the Moorhead family’s heifer with two or more permanent teeth as senior Charolais champion.

    The junior championship was taken by well-known commercial cattle exhibitor Pearse McNamee with an FWO-sired heifer under 450kg.

    Simmental champion for the Gibbons family. \ Tricia Kennedy

    Clive Barnett was out in front in the senior Blue championship with his champion bullock.

    The Gibbons family from Strokestown continued their successful year by clinching the Simmental championship with a young heifer calf from the 350kg or under class.

    Shorthorn champion for Aidan and Shanon Kilnahan.

    \ Tricia Kennedy

    Well-known Blonde breeder Michael Creed secured the Blonde championship yet again at the winter fair in Carrick-on-Shannon, with his senior heifer sired by Kilbarry George.

    Senior Charolais for the Moorhead family. \ Tricia Kennedy