The Irish Charolais Cattle Society hasn’t had an exhibit at the National Ploughing Championships for a number of years, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything happening – with a busy period for autumn 2024 sales coming just around the corner.

Before the sales, the National Calf Show takes place in Carrick-on-Shannon on Saturday, 21 September. The show will have 20 classes for cattle born from April 2023, with €200 up for grabs for first prize in each of the classes.

It’s also a busy few weeks for sales, with the first of the autumn sales taking place in Carrick-on-Shannon on Saturday 26 October.

This sale will be for elite heifers and aims to attract some of the best heifers in the country to Carrick. The next sale will be a show and sale of bulls only in Tullamore on Saturday 2 November.

The highlight of the Charolais pedigree sales calendar every year is the annual Christmas Cracker Show and sale of bulls.

This sale will have the best Charolais bulls in the country and always attracts huge interest from both Irish and overseas buyers.

The society appointed a new secretary in the summer of 2024. Limerick woman Shanon Kinahan took over from Nevan McKiernan as breed secretary.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal Kinahan said: “I’m excited about the new role and it’s a great privilege to be at the helm of Ireland’s number one beef breed.

“We’ve had a great summer, with Charolais weanlings topping several sales around the country.

“We also had a great display of cattle at our national show in Tullamore and I’m looking forward to meeting more breeders at our National Calf Show in Carrick-on-Shannon on Saturday 21 September.”