All eyes were on Carrick-on-Shannon on Saturday 7 February, as the Midland and Western Livestock Improvement Society held its first sale of 2026 without customers from Northern Ireland due to the recent Bluetongue restrictions.
Although their presence around the ring was missed, trade for Angus and Charolais bulls remained strong, as 80% of the 50 bulls on offer sold to an average of €4,100.
Angus bulls made up the bulk of the entries, with 36 trading on the day, topping out at €7,400 for the overall champion, Drumcrow Assassin.
Angus champion
Bred and exhibited by Margaret McKiernan and family from Co Cavan, Assassin was awarded the overall champion Angus by judge Michael Smith of the Lawsonsford herd that morning. Sired by the herds stock bull, HW Abacus, his dam Drumcrow Vixon is a daughter of the 2019 Carrick February champion, Drumcrow Prosecco. As well as garnishing the championship ribbons, this June 2024-born bull went to auction displaying a solid set of Indexes and was knocked down at €7,400 to the pedigree herd of John Delee in Co Limerick.
Mough Adrian shown by Liam and Brian McWeeney sold for €6,500.
Shortly before this, Mough Adrian from Brian McWeeney in Co Leitrim retailed for the second highest price of €6,500, selling to a herd in Co Mayo. A first prize winner in his class, this stylish 21-month-old son of stock bull Mough Vidal is out of a HW Farghal bred dam going back to Friarstown Ideal Pete and carries five-star terminal and replacement indexes.
Ballycallen Andy shown by Jack Johnston sold for €6,000.
Trading at €6,000 was the first-prize winner from the first class of bulls, Ballycallen Andy. Exhibited by Alan Gibbons from Co Roscommon, this 21-month-old son of the aforementioned Mough Vidal was bred by Thomas McWeeney in Co Leitrim. Out of the Deelish Shotgun bred dam, Ballycallen Vera, this powerhouse of a bull was the pick of an organic suckler farmer in Four Mile House, Co Roscommon.
Ace of Clubs
Having claimed the reserve champion Angus earlier that day, Cavan breeders James, Zara and John Dunne realised €5,000 for Highpark Ace of Clubs. Bred by the Doran family in Co Sligo, this powerful 15-month-old son of Rawburn Jumbo Eric is out of Highpark Tia Kirsty and despite being low on stars got lots of fingers wagging before settling with a dairy farmer from Co Wexford.
Highpark Ace of Clubs shown by James Dunne was reserve champion Angus and sold for €5,000.
Meanwhile, all three Angus heifers on offer found new homes for an average of €2,950. Leading the prices was the champion heifer Lavally Aisling brought out by John Mullooly and family from Co Roscommon. Sired by Drumcrow Tribesman and out of the Keirsbeath Karma bred dam, Lavally Velvet, this fantastic example of the breed displayed a mind boggling one-star replacement index, but was snapped up by the Dunne family in Co Cavan for their Beechill herd at €4,100.
Lavally Aisling shown by Eilis Mullooly and Diarmuid Mullaney was champion female Angus and sold for €4,100.
Charolais bulls
Four Charolais bulls exchanged hands on the day, retailing to an average of €4,075. Prices peaked at €4,700 for Michael Grant's April 2024 born bull, Maghermore Vulcan. Sired by Clenagh Lyle going back to Oldstone Egbert and CF52, the Donegal bred bull packed a massive terminal index value of €180 and was the choice lot of a suckler herd in Co Longford. Sligo breeders Eamonn and Daniel O'Connor clinched the champion Charolais with Breaghwyhill Victorious 1 ET. A son of Oldstone Egbert, this single F94L carrier will now join the suckler herd of Enda Waters in Co Sligo.
New president
At the recently held AGM of the Midland and Western Livestock Improvement Society, Thomas Abbott stepped down from his position as president after four years of dedicated commitment to the role. Thomas worked tirelessly throughout his term in developing all aspects of the Society. Succeeding him in the position of president is Roscommon man, Norman Little.
Pick up a copy of this week's Irish Farmers Journal to read all about it.
All eyes were on Carrick-on-Shannon on Saturday 7 February, as the Midland and Western Livestock Improvement Society held its first sale of 2026 without customers from Northern Ireland due to the recent Bluetongue restrictions.
Although their presence around the ring was missed, trade for Angus and Charolais bulls remained strong, as 80% of the 50 bulls on offer sold to an average of €4,100.
Angus bulls made up the bulk of the entries, with 36 trading on the day, topping out at €7,400 for the overall champion, Drumcrow Assassin.
Angus champion
Bred and exhibited by Margaret McKiernan and family from Co Cavan, Assassin was awarded the overall champion Angus by judge Michael Smith of the Lawsonsford herd that morning. Sired by the herds stock bull, HW Abacus, his dam Drumcrow Vixon is a daughter of the 2019 Carrick February champion, Drumcrow Prosecco. As well as garnishing the championship ribbons, this June 2024-born bull went to auction displaying a solid set of Indexes and was knocked down at €7,400 to the pedigree herd of John Delee in Co Limerick.
Mough Adrian shown by Liam and Brian McWeeney sold for €6,500.
Shortly before this, Mough Adrian from Brian McWeeney in Co Leitrim retailed for the second highest price of €6,500, selling to a herd in Co Mayo. A first prize winner in his class, this stylish 21-month-old son of stock bull Mough Vidal is out of a HW Farghal bred dam going back to Friarstown Ideal Pete and carries five-star terminal and replacement indexes.
Ballycallen Andy shown by Jack Johnston sold for €6,000.
Trading at €6,000 was the first-prize winner from the first class of bulls, Ballycallen Andy. Exhibited by Alan Gibbons from Co Roscommon, this 21-month-old son of the aforementioned Mough Vidal was bred by Thomas McWeeney in Co Leitrim. Out of the Deelish Shotgun bred dam, Ballycallen Vera, this powerhouse of a bull was the pick of an organic suckler farmer in Four Mile House, Co Roscommon.
Ace of Clubs
Having claimed the reserve champion Angus earlier that day, Cavan breeders James, Zara and John Dunne realised €5,000 for Highpark Ace of Clubs. Bred by the Doran family in Co Sligo, this powerful 15-month-old son of Rawburn Jumbo Eric is out of Highpark Tia Kirsty and despite being low on stars got lots of fingers wagging before settling with a dairy farmer from Co Wexford.
Highpark Ace of Clubs shown by James Dunne was reserve champion Angus and sold for €5,000.
Meanwhile, all three Angus heifers on offer found new homes for an average of €2,950. Leading the prices was the champion heifer Lavally Aisling brought out by John Mullooly and family from Co Roscommon. Sired by Drumcrow Tribesman and out of the Keirsbeath Karma bred dam, Lavally Velvet, this fantastic example of the breed displayed a mind boggling one-star replacement index, but was snapped up by the Dunne family in Co Cavan for their Beechill herd at €4,100.
Lavally Aisling shown by Eilis Mullooly and Diarmuid Mullaney was champion female Angus and sold for €4,100.
Charolais bulls
Four Charolais bulls exchanged hands on the day, retailing to an average of €4,075. Prices peaked at €4,700 for Michael Grant's April 2024 born bull, Maghermore Vulcan. Sired by Clenagh Lyle going back to Oldstone Egbert and CF52, the Donegal bred bull packed a massive terminal index value of €180 and was the choice lot of a suckler herd in Co Longford. Sligo breeders Eamonn and Daniel O'Connor clinched the champion Charolais with Breaghwyhill Victorious 1 ET. A son of Oldstone Egbert, this single F94L carrier will now join the suckler herd of Enda Waters in Co Sligo.
New president
At the recently held AGM of the Midland and Western Livestock Improvement Society, Thomas Abbott stepped down from his position as president after four years of dedicated commitment to the role. Thomas worked tirelessly throughout his term in developing all aspects of the Society. Succeeding him in the position of president is Roscommon man, Norman Little.
Pick up a copy of this week's Irish Farmers Journal to read all about it.
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