To say auctioneers George Candler and Darren Hession were inundated with bids at Saturday's Irish Limousin Cattle Society show and sale of bulls and heifers in Roscommon Mart would be an understatement.
Demand was ferocious, as 97% of the 45 bulls on offer retailed to an average of €6,494.
Appetite for the small number of heifers in the yard was just as strong, as all four heifers traded to an average of €4,225.
It's been a thrilling year of sales for the Limousin breed, consistently setting the bar with mouthwatering clearances and exceptional averages.
On Saturday, suckler and dairy farmers competed hard once again to secure bulls for the 2026 breeding season.
Sale-topper
The sale-topper came in the form of Phillips Volcano from Michael Phillips and family from Gurteen in Co Sligo.
Three generations of the family were on hand on Saturday, as they put forward three top-quality bulls for sale.
Having been tapped out as reserve champion by judge Kevin Graham of the Liverpool herd, Volcano topped the trade at €10,700, selling to a Galway-based suckler farmer.
Born in April 2024, he is a son of Ampertaine Metric out of Phillips Serena ET, a daughter of Gorrycam Notorious.
Below-average calving figures coupled with a replacement index of €157 and copies of the F94L and Q204X genes made him an attractive lot for many customers.
The Phillips family powered on to a super day's trading as they sold their pen of three bulls to an average of €8,433.
Bavardage son
Drumlion Valentino, a son of Bavardage, found a new home at €9,300.
Bred and exhibited by Clare breeders Joseph and James Kelly, his dam Millburn Milley is a daughter of Wilodge Joskins, which was purchased from Richard O’Beirne's well-known herd in Co Galway.
Boasting a five-star terminal index of €164 and two copies of the F94L gene, he will now join a suckler herd in Co Westmeath.
Drumquin Valentino shown by James Kelly sold for €9,300. \ Alfie Shaw
The Hester family had a vibrant day at the market, securing €18,000 for their two September 2024-born bulls.
First from the Castlerea-based herd was Meelickaduff Valencia, a son of Drumline S1185 out of a Wilodge Cerberus-bred cow.
Coming with a nice balance of indexes, this stylish third-prizewinner was the pick of a Longford-based farmer at a retail price of €9,200.
The second bull from the Hester family was the fancied Meelickaduff Volcano, which commanded a price of €8,800.
Sired by Plumtree Fantastic, he goes back to Ampertaine Elgin and Manoir on his mother's side.
Picking up a red ticket in his class, this star-studded young bull won the 2025 North West Club calf finals this summer. He was knocked down to a Galway suckler farmer.
Meelickaduff Valencia shown by Maria Hester sold for €9,200. \ Alfie Shaw
Also heading to Galway is the 16-month-old Carrowreagh Vegas from the herd of Pat Bruen in Elphin, Co Roscommon.
A son of Telfers Munster and Carrowneden Skye, a Whinfellpark Lomu daughter, he went to a auction with two copies of the profit gene and a massive terminal index of €192.
Having claimed a red ribbon in his class, he sold for €8,400.
Pat capped off a brilliant day at the office as he received a call of €7,800 for Carrowreagh Victor, a May 2024-born son of Hirohito. A double F94L carrier, he sold north of the border.
Calving figures
Galway breeder Dermot Shaughnessy parted company with Lisna Vmax at €8,200.
Packing a replacement index of €141 and calving figures in the top 20% of the breed, this Plumtree Fantastic son was also purchased by a farmer from Co Galway.
The Tomschoice Lexicon son Corroy Vinny went under the hammer at €8,000, also finding a new abode in Co Galway. Having claimed a third prize ticket in his class, this double F94L carrier is out of a Ampertaine Elgin-bred dam.
Overall champion Clontown Varley shown by Kieran Treanor sold for €7,400. \ Alfie Shaw
The Liverpool man wasted no time in awarding the overall championship to Clontown Varley in the pre-sale show.
Bred and exhibited by the Treanor brothers from Co Monaghan, Varley is a son of Gerrygullinane Glen and the Mereside Lorenzo dam Frogmore Peppa.
After some brisk online and ringside bidding, this five-star terminal bull got knocked down at €7,400, selling to a suckler farmer in Co Mayo.
Read all about Saturday's sale in this week's Irish Farmers Journal.
To say auctioneers George Candler and Darren Hession were inundated with bids at Saturday's Irish Limousin Cattle Society show and sale of bulls and heifers in Roscommon Mart would be an understatement.
Demand was ferocious, as 97% of the 45 bulls on offer retailed to an average of €6,494.
Appetite for the small number of heifers in the yard was just as strong, as all four heifers traded to an average of €4,225.
It's been a thrilling year of sales for the Limousin breed, consistently setting the bar with mouthwatering clearances and exceptional averages.
On Saturday, suckler and dairy farmers competed hard once again to secure bulls for the 2026 breeding season.
Sale-topper
The sale-topper came in the form of Phillips Volcano from Michael Phillips and family from Gurteen in Co Sligo.
Three generations of the family were on hand on Saturday, as they put forward three top-quality bulls for sale.
Having been tapped out as reserve champion by judge Kevin Graham of the Liverpool herd, Volcano topped the trade at €10,700, selling to a Galway-based suckler farmer.
Born in April 2024, he is a son of Ampertaine Metric out of Phillips Serena ET, a daughter of Gorrycam Notorious.
Below-average calving figures coupled with a replacement index of €157 and copies of the F94L and Q204X genes made him an attractive lot for many customers.
The Phillips family powered on to a super day's trading as they sold their pen of three bulls to an average of €8,433.
Bavardage son
Drumlion Valentino, a son of Bavardage, found a new home at €9,300.
Bred and exhibited by Clare breeders Joseph and James Kelly, his dam Millburn Milley is a daughter of Wilodge Joskins, which was purchased from Richard O’Beirne's well-known herd in Co Galway.
Boasting a five-star terminal index of €164 and two copies of the F94L gene, he will now join a suckler herd in Co Westmeath.
Drumquin Valentino shown by James Kelly sold for €9,300. \ Alfie Shaw
The Hester family had a vibrant day at the market, securing €18,000 for their two September 2024-born bulls.
First from the Castlerea-based herd was Meelickaduff Valencia, a son of Drumline S1185 out of a Wilodge Cerberus-bred cow.
Coming with a nice balance of indexes, this stylish third-prizewinner was the pick of a Longford-based farmer at a retail price of €9,200.
The second bull from the Hester family was the fancied Meelickaduff Volcano, which commanded a price of €8,800.
Sired by Plumtree Fantastic, he goes back to Ampertaine Elgin and Manoir on his mother's side.
Picking up a red ticket in his class, this star-studded young bull won the 2025 North West Club calf finals this summer. He was knocked down to a Galway suckler farmer.
Meelickaduff Valencia shown by Maria Hester sold for €9,200. \ Alfie Shaw
Also heading to Galway is the 16-month-old Carrowreagh Vegas from the herd of Pat Bruen in Elphin, Co Roscommon.
A son of Telfers Munster and Carrowneden Skye, a Whinfellpark Lomu daughter, he went to a auction with two copies of the profit gene and a massive terminal index of €192.
Having claimed a red ribbon in his class, he sold for €8,400.
Pat capped off a brilliant day at the office as he received a call of €7,800 for Carrowreagh Victor, a May 2024-born son of Hirohito. A double F94L carrier, he sold north of the border.
Calving figures
Galway breeder Dermot Shaughnessy parted company with Lisna Vmax at €8,200.
Packing a replacement index of €141 and calving figures in the top 20% of the breed, this Plumtree Fantastic son was also purchased by a farmer from Co Galway.
The Tomschoice Lexicon son Corroy Vinny went under the hammer at €8,000, also finding a new abode in Co Galway. Having claimed a third prize ticket in his class, this double F94L carrier is out of a Ampertaine Elgin-bred dam.
Overall champion Clontown Varley shown by Kieran Treanor sold for €7,400. \ Alfie Shaw
The Liverpool man wasted no time in awarding the overall championship to Clontown Varley in the pre-sale show.
Bred and exhibited by the Treanor brothers from Co Monaghan, Varley is a son of Gerrygullinane Glen and the Mereside Lorenzo dam Frogmore Peppa.
After some brisk online and ringside bidding, this five-star terminal bull got knocked down at €7,400, selling to a suckler farmer in Co Mayo.
Read all about Saturday's sale in this week's Irish Farmers Journal.
SHARING OPTIONS