Now in its 61st year, Cappamore – based in the townland of Portnard, Co Limerick – hosts one of the best agricultural shows in the Munster region. With a new layout in the cattle area, a most enjoyable day was had by all last Saturday, with many complimenting how well run and organised the event was.

There was a strong display of cattle in the young handler competitions. Daniel Moloney, Ardnacrusha, was the winner of the boys’ under-16 beef class, while Chloe Hegarty, Bandon, Co Cork, won the girls’ under-16 beef class.

Sean Ryan, Doon, Co Limerick, won the under-12 Holstein Friesian YMA showman class, with Brian Smith, Doneraile, Co Cork, triumphant in the 13- to 16-year-old age class. Emer Kennelly, Ardfert, Co Kerry, topped the line in the 17- to 26-year-old age class. Rounding off the young handler classes was the local confined class, which was first started in the mid-1980s and is unique to the Cappamore Show. The local confined class is for children aged 16 or under in the parish of Cappamore to lead a calf, pedigree or non-pedigree. The winners here were Eamon and Michael O’Donovan, Dromalty, Co Limerick, with their Charolais heifer, Tina.

The champion in the dairy section was owned by Michael and Elizabeth McNamara, Charleville, Co Cork and reserve champion went to Margaret Laffan, Adare, Co Limerick, with her first-lactation heifer class winner.

The beef Shorthorn championship was won by Marie McNamara, Scariff, Co Clare, while the yearling heifer class winner, Ardnaskea Valentine, picked up the reserve for Patrick Hehir, Inagh, Co Clare.

Double win

It was a double win for the Goulding family, Ballyduff, Co Kerry, in the Hereford championship, having dominated the earlier classes. Judge Adrian Bateman tapped forward their cow Gouldingpoll Duchess 548 with her bull calf at foot as his champion, below.

The Goulding family continued to pick up prizes in the Angus ring, taking champion Angus with their 2015-born bull calf Goulding Macbeth, under judge Niall Faughnan, below.

Niall’s reserve champion went to Dr Michael Sheahan, Co Tipperary, with Luddenmore Ellen Erica P225.

In the commercial ring, the first big championship of the day was the €1,000 Bonny Baby Calf of the Year (male or female) not exceeding 250kg. Saoirse, Laoise and Carry Lynch, Kells, Co Meath, were triumphant in this category with their heifer calf, Sandy.

New to the class schedule this year was the Cappamore Show/Irish Limousin breeding heifer of the year class, with a prize fund of €1,500. Derrick Forde, Corrandulla, Co Galway, was the winner with his heifer Elsa.

In the last of the commercial showing was the hotly contested GVM Marts All-Ireland €2,500 Championship (bullock or non-pedigree heifer born before September 2014). Topping the line was father-and-son team, Robert and Mark McGivern, Carrigtwohill, Co Cork, with reserve going to the Maxwell brothers, Castlerea, Co Roscommon.

The overall commercial champion went to Catherine and Andrew McCarthy, Mullagh, Co Clare, with their successful Limousin cross heifer Rosie. This heifer has picked up numerous championships in the show ring this year and last. There is no doubt but that we’ll be seeing plenty more of her.

Reserve commercial went to Erwin Stanley, Portlaoise, Co Laois, for his heifer with no permanent teeth, below.

In the Blues category, David Pearson, Ballacolla, Co Laois, picked up the rosette for his breeding heifer winner. David also collected the reserve.

Cappamore also hosted two All-Ireland finals, namely the All-Ireland Belgian Blue junior bull, won by John Searson, Roscrea, Co Tipperary, for Sheehills Inspiration, with David Pearson taking the reserve. In the All-Ireland Belgian Blue senior bull championship, Enniscorthy man Trevor Ashmore came out on top, with David Pearson taking reserve.

Limerick natives Jerry and Kay O’Keefe had the champion Charolais, with their December 2014-born heifer Grangewood Jolly Holly, sired by Goldstar Echo, below.

Martin Ryan of Thurles took the reserve with Goldstar Jackpot, another son of Goldstar Echo.

In a small Salers section, champion went to John Burke, Clarecastle, Co Clare, and reserve to Thomas J. Mulcahy, Strand, Co Limerick.

The Limousin champion went to Drummin Kailee, a super-stylish heifer calf of John McInerney’s from Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co Clare, below.

The reserve went to Doreen and Timothy Corridan’s senior heifer, Roundhill Unanimee 1440, below.

Liam Fitzgerald, Mallow, Co Cork, collected both champion and reserve for the Parthenaise breed.

Different breeds

And, finally, in the different breed sections, the Simmentals were judged by Waterford man John Kenny. His overall champion went to local man Seamus Aherne with his yearling bull Towerhill Freaky Friday. The reserve was James Browne’s January 2015-born bull calf, Corbally Gruffalo, below.

Cappamore Show hosted the southwest Simmental Club finals. Seamus Aherne’s bull won the John O’Connell, Crecora Mills yearling bull championship. Joe Kelly, Ennis, Co Clare, took the yearling heifer championship with Knockane First. Seamus Aherne claimed both the Bova AI champion December 2014 bull calf final and the Dovea Genetics December 2014 heifer calf final. Jennie Aherne had the champion senior heifer with her 18-month-old Rubyjen Foxy Zoe. Finishing off in the Simmental ring was the SWSC young handlers’ class. The winner was Adam Aherne, with Zoe Moroney in second place and Molly McCarthy third.

A real crowd puller in the cattle section were the interbreed classes, where the finest of each breed competed against each another. The winner in the interbreed autumn calf class was David Pearson with his Belgian Blue bull, while John McInerney’s January 2015 heifer calf won the interbreed spring calf class.

Cork man Clive Jennings had the last task of the day, choosing the interbreed champion of the show and what a lineup of cattle it was. John McInerney came up trumps with his Limousin heifer calf, Dummin Kailee, below.

Keeping the Limousin flag flying high were Andrew and Catherine McCarthy, who were tapped forward for the reserve champion of the show with their commercial champion heifer, Rosie, below.