Over 100 cattle went for auction in Saturday's mammoth show and sale of Angus, Shorthorn and Hereford bulls and heifers at the showgrounds in Carrick-on-Shannon. In the pre-sale show, the Society marked its centenary year by presenting medals from the Royal Dublin Society to the championship winners.
In the sale ring, auctioneers Francis McGowan and Cian Connolly presided from the rostrum, reporting that just short of 70% of the cattle sold on the day. Making up the bulk of the entries was the Angus breed, with 50 bulls selling for an average of €4,437.
Demand was particularly strong for the top-end Angus bulls, with one Cavan breeder receiving €24,800 for three bulls.
Niall Conaty from Ballyhaise in Co Cavan had an unforgettable day, receiving the highest price of €8,800, as well as €8,200 and €7,800 for his two other offerings.
Ellens trio
Topping the trade at €8,800 was Ellens Buddy, a January-2025-born bull sired by Bullbank's Drumcrow Reeko. A third prize winner in his class, his dam, Shankill Martha, is a daughter of Thrunton Rocket going back to Eastfield Black Buddy. He attracted interest from a number of pedigree and commercial farmers, despite carrying just a one-star replacement index of €92 and a two-star terminal index of €56, eventually settling with Ballinwing Angus in Co Leitrim.
Ellens Boss, shown by Niall Conaty with Gerry Kilgallon, IACS, and Maura Waters, RDS, was overall champion and sold for €8,200. \ Tricia Kennedy
Shortly before this, Niall received €8,200 for the overall champion from the pre-sale show, Ellens Boss. A son of Rawburn Boss Hogg and the Drumhill Lord Harry daughter Shankill Matilda U008, this January-2025-born bull carries a glittering set of indexes, ranking in the top 20% of the breed across replacement, dairy-beef and terminal. Taking him back to Co Tipperary to run with his pedigree herd was John Donovan.
Ellens Benn,y shown by Niall Conaty, sold for €7,800. \ Tricia Kennedy
Rounding off a brilliant day for the young Cavan man was Ellens Benny, a February-2025-born son of Drumcrow Reeko and Ellens Ursula, an Intelagri Matteo-bred cow. Boasting another fantastic set of figures, this second prize winner was acquired by Gigginstown Angus in Co Westmeath for €7,800.
Rathmooney
The Michael O'Leary-owned herd also snapped up Rathmooney Jude Eric A157 for the second highest price of €8,500. Bred by Gabriel Hoey in Co Dublin, this powerful, October-2024-born bull was ready for work straight away and came with four-star replacement, terminal and dairy-beef indices. A son of Laheens Virgo, his dam is Friarstown Lord Big bred dam Gigginstown Jupiter Elle V968.
Rathmooney Jude Eric A157, shown by Oisin Cassidy, sold for €8,500. \ Tricia Kennedy
Selling at €7,400 was Cathal and Cormac Duignan's Laheens Aengus. December-2024-born, he is a son of the herd's home-bred AI sire Laheens U Boss Hogg, going back to a Goulding Jumbo King bred dam. Again, he offered a nice array of figures and garnered a red rosette from the pre-sale show. Taking him north to Castlewellan was Jim Peters.
At €7,100 was the second prize winner from the youngest class of the day, Drumcrow Promise Keeper B098. Bred by Margaret McKiernan and family from Co Cavan, this rising 13-month-old bull is a son of Morpheus Kodiak and the Drumcrow Joker bred cow, Drumcrow Princess Tulip R025. Displaying a well-balanced set of figures, he will now join Francis Davitt's pedigree herd in west Cavan.
Hum Dinger son
Up next at €6,800 was another Cavan-bred bull, Drumcarbin Best Seller, the property of Shane McKiernan. Sired by Loughlynn Hum Dinger and out of the Rawburn Boss Hogg-bred cow Drumcarbin Laura V316, this February-2025-born bull picked up a red ticket in the pre-sale show, further enhancing his well-below-average calving figures. Adding him to his pedigree fold in Northern Ireland was Ian McRoberts.
Leitrim breeder Joe McEllin was in the hot seat when he received a call of €6,500 for his 13-month-old bull, Mohill Black Lightning. Sired by the UK powerhouse Rawburn Boss Hogg, this high-index young bull is out of a Stouphill Bomber-bred cow. Purchasing him for their pedigree and commercial herd in Co Westmeath was the Holloway family.
Just four Angus heifers exchanged hands, averaging €2,775. Leading the prices at €3,800 was the reserve champion, Dillon Annabel. Exhibited by Roscommon breeders, Niall and Brendan Regan, this September-2024-born heifer is a daughter of Drumcrow Urban Fire and sold in-calf to Kilteevan Nicky.
Shorthorn
In the Shorthorn ring, Ballinlig Johnny claimed all the plaudits, winning the overall champion and achieving the joint highest price of €4,000 for breeder Amelda Middleton Leonard. Sired by Bushypark Spark, this January-2025-born bull goes back to Ballinlig Danzer and Kilkelly Major and was knocked down to Luke Sheils in Co Offaly.
Ballinlig Johnny was champion Shorthorn and sold for €4,000. \ Chloe Goggins
In the female section, 11 Shorthorn heifers sold to an average of €2,140, peaking at €4,000 for the champion heifer, Tintrim Heidi. Bred by Marie McNamara in Co Clare, this classy dark roan 13-month-old heifer is sired by Raheenadeeragh Jumbo and was the pick of Eamon Lally in Co Mayo.
Hereford
Cavan man William Spotten led proceedings in the small consignment of Herefords with Evelagh Clover PP selling for €3,400. A daughter of Ballymartle 1 Big Joe, this four-star replacement heifer caught the eye of Nicola Marshall in Co Roscommon.
Over 100 cattle went for auction in Saturday's mammoth show and sale of Angus, Shorthorn and Hereford bulls and heifers at the showgrounds in Carrick-on-Shannon. In the pre-sale show, the Society marked its centenary year by presenting medals from the Royal Dublin Society to the championship winners.
In the sale ring, auctioneers Francis McGowan and Cian Connolly presided from the rostrum, reporting that just short of 70% of the cattle sold on the day. Making up the bulk of the entries was the Angus breed, with 50 bulls selling for an average of €4,437.
Demand was particularly strong for the top-end Angus bulls, with one Cavan breeder receiving €24,800 for three bulls.
Niall Conaty from Ballyhaise in Co Cavan had an unforgettable day, receiving the highest price of €8,800, as well as €8,200 and €7,800 for his two other offerings.
Ellens trio
Topping the trade at €8,800 was Ellens Buddy, a January-2025-born bull sired by Bullbank's Drumcrow Reeko. A third prize winner in his class, his dam, Shankill Martha, is a daughter of Thrunton Rocket going back to Eastfield Black Buddy. He attracted interest from a number of pedigree and commercial farmers, despite carrying just a one-star replacement index of €92 and a two-star terminal index of €56, eventually settling with Ballinwing Angus in Co Leitrim.
Ellens Boss, shown by Niall Conaty with Gerry Kilgallon, IACS, and Maura Waters, RDS, was overall champion and sold for €8,200. \ Tricia Kennedy
Shortly before this, Niall received €8,200 for the overall champion from the pre-sale show, Ellens Boss. A son of Rawburn Boss Hogg and the Drumhill Lord Harry daughter Shankill Matilda U008, this January-2025-born bull carries a glittering set of indexes, ranking in the top 20% of the breed across replacement, dairy-beef and terminal. Taking him back to Co Tipperary to run with his pedigree herd was John Donovan.
Ellens Benn,y shown by Niall Conaty, sold for €7,800. \ Tricia Kennedy
Rounding off a brilliant day for the young Cavan man was Ellens Benny, a February-2025-born son of Drumcrow Reeko and Ellens Ursula, an Intelagri Matteo-bred cow. Boasting another fantastic set of figures, this second prize winner was acquired by Gigginstown Angus in Co Westmeath for €7,800.
Rathmooney
The Michael O'Leary-owned herd also snapped up Rathmooney Jude Eric A157 for the second highest price of €8,500. Bred by Gabriel Hoey in Co Dublin, this powerful, October-2024-born bull was ready for work straight away and came with four-star replacement, terminal and dairy-beef indices. A son of Laheens Virgo, his dam is Friarstown Lord Big bred dam Gigginstown Jupiter Elle V968.
Rathmooney Jude Eric A157, shown by Oisin Cassidy, sold for €8,500. \ Tricia Kennedy
Selling at €7,400 was Cathal and Cormac Duignan's Laheens Aengus. December-2024-born, he is a son of the herd's home-bred AI sire Laheens U Boss Hogg, going back to a Goulding Jumbo King bred dam. Again, he offered a nice array of figures and garnered a red rosette from the pre-sale show. Taking him north to Castlewellan was Jim Peters.
At €7,100 was the second prize winner from the youngest class of the day, Drumcrow Promise Keeper B098. Bred by Margaret McKiernan and family from Co Cavan, this rising 13-month-old bull is a son of Morpheus Kodiak and the Drumcrow Joker bred cow, Drumcrow Princess Tulip R025. Displaying a well-balanced set of figures, he will now join Francis Davitt's pedigree herd in west Cavan.
Hum Dinger son
Up next at €6,800 was another Cavan-bred bull, Drumcarbin Best Seller, the property of Shane McKiernan. Sired by Loughlynn Hum Dinger and out of the Rawburn Boss Hogg-bred cow Drumcarbin Laura V316, this February-2025-born bull picked up a red ticket in the pre-sale show, further enhancing his well-below-average calving figures. Adding him to his pedigree fold in Northern Ireland was Ian McRoberts.
Leitrim breeder Joe McEllin was in the hot seat when he received a call of €6,500 for his 13-month-old bull, Mohill Black Lightning. Sired by the UK powerhouse Rawburn Boss Hogg, this high-index young bull is out of a Stouphill Bomber-bred cow. Purchasing him for their pedigree and commercial herd in Co Westmeath was the Holloway family.
Just four Angus heifers exchanged hands, averaging €2,775. Leading the prices at €3,800 was the reserve champion, Dillon Annabel. Exhibited by Roscommon breeders, Niall and Brendan Regan, this September-2024-born heifer is a daughter of Drumcrow Urban Fire and sold in-calf to Kilteevan Nicky.
Shorthorn
In the Shorthorn ring, Ballinlig Johnny claimed all the plaudits, winning the overall champion and achieving the joint highest price of €4,000 for breeder Amelda Middleton Leonard. Sired by Bushypark Spark, this January-2025-born bull goes back to Ballinlig Danzer and Kilkelly Major and was knocked down to Luke Sheils in Co Offaly.
Ballinlig Johnny was champion Shorthorn and sold for €4,000. \ Chloe Goggins
In the female section, 11 Shorthorn heifers sold to an average of €2,140, peaking at €4,000 for the champion heifer, Tintrim Heidi. Bred by Marie McNamara in Co Clare, this classy dark roan 13-month-old heifer is sired by Raheenadeeragh Jumbo and was the pick of Eamon Lally in Co Mayo.
Hereford
Cavan man William Spotten led proceedings in the small consignment of Herefords with Evelagh Clover PP selling for €3,400. A daughter of Ballymartle 1 Big Joe, this four-star replacement heifer caught the eye of Nicola Marshall in Co Roscommon.
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