€6,800 leads Limousin Athenry sale

Oldtown Kenny led the march at the Irish Limousin Cattle Society’s annual sale in Athenry when he secured the top price of €6,800. Bred by William Hogan, Thurles, Co Tipperary, Kenny is an October 2015-born son by Keltic Handsome. Carrying five stars down the line, the bull was met with a flurry of bids for auctioneer Denis Barret from the minute the bull entered the ring. Securing him at the top price was local farmer Tom Hession, Athenry.

Next in the money was the day’s reserve junior champion Cloverhill Lorenzo at €4,900. Lorenzo is a 13-month-old son of Haltcliffe Gunner and was bred by Tom Walsh, Castlebar, Co Mayo. Carrying five stars on a number of traits, he was purchased by Oranmore-based Declan Higgins.

Senior championship

Judge James Wycherley of the Barryroe herd awarded the senior championship to William Smith’s Milbrook Kasey. This Kaprico Eravelle son also sees Rocky and Genial in the sire stack and was snapped up by Margaret Creavin, Corrandulla, Co Galway, for €4,700.

Also from William Smith was Millbrook Klipper, a multi-starred Wilodge Fastrac son. Klipper’s dam Milbrook Emblem Et has Domino, Mas Du Clo and the renowned Milbrook Monique in her back pedigree. Sixteen-month-old Klipper sold for €4,600 to Peter Mannion, Ballygar, Co Galway.

Dairy farmer John Gibson, Kilrush, Co Clare, purchased the reserve senior champion Sliabh Felim Kenny from Sean Ryan, Cappamore, Co Limerick. Kenny is by Fieldson Alfy and out of Sliabh Felim Delia, a Mas Du Clo daughter. Born in September 2015, he was secured for €4,700.

Eye-catching

Fifteen-month-old first-prizewinner Meelickaduff Kingsman was acquired by Gerry Costelloe, Athenry, for €4,600. Kingsman is an eye-catching Wilodge Goldcard son, bred by Michael Hester, Castlerea, Co Roscommon.

Pedigree breeder Bertie Mannion acquired Cavelands Kieran to run with his Ballyline herd, based in Curraghboy, Co Roscommon. Kieran is a son of Cavelands Eoin and Cavelands Heather.

Nineteen-month-old Kieran, bred by Paul Sykes, Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, sold for €4,300.

Bobby Jones, Skerries, Co Dublin, received €4,300 for his first-prizewinning Bremore Kavilire. Kavilire is a son of the Bremore herd sire Hortensia and found a new home in Co Clare with Flan Mullane.

Daniel Kirby’s first-prizewinning Rathlee Kane sold for €4,100 to John Staunton, Castlebar, Co Mayo. Kane, an October 2015-born bull, is by Wilodge Goldcard and out of the homebred Dauphin daughter Rathlee Alma.

Carrigdown Kifir by Roundhill Saturn Et sold for €4,000. Kifir’s dam, Carrigdown Inka, has Nenuphar and Wilodge Tonka in her sire stack and was bred by Aidan Baker, North Circular Road, Co Limerick. Martin Shaughnessy, Gort, Co Galway, was the lucky purchaser of this first-prizewinner.

Ballyline Leo from Bertie Mannion, Athlone, Co Roscommon, was crowned junior champion. Leo has Gleannari Everest, Sympa and Mas Du Clo in his sire stack.

This yearling bull left the ring unsold having failed to meet his reserve.

Bulls averaged €3,223, back slightly on the year from €3,291, while clearance rates stayed the same at 86%.