An unprecedented number of spectators attended Sunday's show of weanling heifers at the Carrick Winter Fair.
With Monday's sale anticipated to be the best ever, potential buyers were keen to view the young females strutting their stuff in the pre-sale show.
Drafted in to judge this year's event were James Nisbet and Andrew Ireland, two highly experienced cattle men from Scotland.
Over 360 entries went before the Scotsmen, in what has been described as the best ever display of weanling heifers at the famous showgrounds.
Young stock person classes
The day commenced with the young stock person classes ably judged by Shanon Kinahan from Cush Livestock in Co Limerick.
For her junior winner, she tapped out young Tadhg Hannon from Co Limerick with the senior award going to Sarah O'Neill from Co Carlow.
These were quickly followed by the Angus cross heifer class which was won by Conor Murphy with a heifer sired by an Angus stock bull.
Seamus Egan from Co Mayo stood top of the line in the Parthenaise calf class with a heifer by Killerwick Lancelot.
In the Shorthorn cross class, Shane O'Neill came out on top with a heifer calf sired by Castlefin Hotshot.
The Blonde d'Aquitaine cross heifer calf 500kg or under was headed up by John Kingham of Tateetra and Rathmore Farms with a calf by the herd's hybrid stock bull.
Simmental
Elaine Anderson from Co Sligo took up the judging reins for the two Simmental classes. For her champion, she awarded the sash to Thomas Casey from Co Laois with his January 2025-born weanling heifer sired by Rubyjen Here's Johnny. Standing reserve to her was Gabriel Mitchell's second prize winner from the same class sired by Derreen Jack.
Charolais
Cork breeder Donal Murphy took top spot in the Charolais championship with a March 2025-born calf by Crossmolina Euro. In reserve was Fergal McDermott from Co Cavan with the first prize winner from the best Charolais calf 400kg or under class sired by Progressive Genetics' Cloonradoon Roicky.
Limousin
Quality in the Limousin section was exceptional with one of the biggest classes of the day featuring over 80 calves. Picking up the champion here was Galway breeder Derrick Forde with a heifer calf by Trueman Idol, with Michael and Brodie Molloy from Co Louth in reserve with another super black calf by Pabo Rocknroll.
Belgian Blue
It was an unforgettable day for Donegal man Cian McGloin, who picked up both the champion and reserve in the enthralling Belgian Blue contest. Both heifers are full ET sisters sired by Notaire Du Tordoir going back to a Milbrook Dartangan bred cow.
Three hotly contested categories were the AI companies sponsored classes, which ran late into the evening.
Derrick Forde continued his winning ways with his Trueman Idol daughter, who earlier claimed the overall champion Limousin getting the nod in the Elite Pedigree Genetics' commercial calf championship.
In the Dovea Genetics' sired calf bonanza, Frank Glynn from Co Galway clinched victory with his heifer calf by Claddagh McCabe. Meanwhile, in the Progressive Genetics' and Munster Bovine future champions calf Extravaganza Declan Davis tasted success with his Belgian Blue cross heifer calf by Tropique.
Enjoy these images from Sunday's show of weanling heifers.
In pictures
Overall champion Limousin exhibited by Derrick Forde.
Winner of the Dovea Genetics's sired calf bonanza shown by PJ Smyth and exhibited by Frank Glynn.
First prize winner in the best Belgian Blue cross female calf 500kg or under class exhibited by Dermot McGinley.
Pat and Mike Roseingrave with their first prize Belgian Blue cross heifer.
Best Shorthorn cross heifer for Shane O'Neill.
Champion Simmental for Thomas Casey.
Best Aberdeen Angus cross female exhibited by Donal Murphy.
Reserve champion Limousin shown by Brodie Molloy with judge James Nisbet.
Derrick Forde's Limousin cross heifer which won the Elite Pedigree Genetics' commercial calf championship.
Winner of the Progressive Genetics' and Munster Bovine future champions calf extravaganza for Declan Davis.
Stay tuned for a report online and in this week's Irish Farmers Journal from tomorrow's sale.
An unprecedented number of spectators attended Sunday's show of weanling heifers at the Carrick Winter Fair.
With Monday's sale anticipated to be the best ever, potential buyers were keen to view the young females strutting their stuff in the pre-sale show.
Drafted in to judge this year's event were James Nisbet and Andrew Ireland, two highly experienced cattle men from Scotland.
Over 360 entries went before the Scotsmen, in what has been described as the best ever display of weanling heifers at the famous showgrounds.
Young stock person classes
The day commenced with the young stock person classes ably judged by Shanon Kinahan from Cush Livestock in Co Limerick.
For her junior winner, she tapped out young Tadhg Hannon from Co Limerick with the senior award going to Sarah O'Neill from Co Carlow.
These were quickly followed by the Angus cross heifer class which was won by Conor Murphy with a heifer sired by an Angus stock bull.
Seamus Egan from Co Mayo stood top of the line in the Parthenaise calf class with a heifer by Killerwick Lancelot.
In the Shorthorn cross class, Shane O'Neill came out on top with a heifer calf sired by Castlefin Hotshot.
The Blonde d'Aquitaine cross heifer calf 500kg or under was headed up by John Kingham of Tateetra and Rathmore Farms with a calf by the herd's hybrid stock bull.
Simmental
Elaine Anderson from Co Sligo took up the judging reins for the two Simmental classes. For her champion, she awarded the sash to Thomas Casey from Co Laois with his January 2025-born weanling heifer sired by Rubyjen Here's Johnny. Standing reserve to her was Gabriel Mitchell's second prize winner from the same class sired by Derreen Jack.
Charolais
Cork breeder Donal Murphy took top spot in the Charolais championship with a March 2025-born calf by Crossmolina Euro. In reserve was Fergal McDermott from Co Cavan with the first prize winner from the best Charolais calf 400kg or under class sired by Progressive Genetics' Cloonradoon Roicky.
Limousin
Quality in the Limousin section was exceptional with one of the biggest classes of the day featuring over 80 calves. Picking up the champion here was Galway breeder Derrick Forde with a heifer calf by Trueman Idol, with Michael and Brodie Molloy from Co Louth in reserve with another super black calf by Pabo Rocknroll.
Belgian Blue
It was an unforgettable day for Donegal man Cian McGloin, who picked up both the champion and reserve in the enthralling Belgian Blue contest. Both heifers are full ET sisters sired by Notaire Du Tordoir going back to a Milbrook Dartangan bred cow.
Three hotly contested categories were the AI companies sponsored classes, which ran late into the evening.
Derrick Forde continued his winning ways with his Trueman Idol daughter, who earlier claimed the overall champion Limousin getting the nod in the Elite Pedigree Genetics' commercial calf championship.
In the Dovea Genetics' sired calf bonanza, Frank Glynn from Co Galway clinched victory with his heifer calf by Claddagh McCabe. Meanwhile, in the Progressive Genetics' and Munster Bovine future champions calf Extravaganza Declan Davis tasted success with his Belgian Blue cross heifer calf by Tropique.
Enjoy these images from Sunday's show of weanling heifers.
In pictures
Overall champion Limousin exhibited by Derrick Forde.
Winner of the Dovea Genetics's sired calf bonanza shown by PJ Smyth and exhibited by Frank Glynn.
First prize winner in the best Belgian Blue cross female calf 500kg or under class exhibited by Dermot McGinley.
Pat and Mike Roseingrave with their first prize Belgian Blue cross heifer.
Best Shorthorn cross heifer for Shane O'Neill.
Champion Simmental for Thomas Casey.
Best Aberdeen Angus cross female exhibited by Donal Murphy.
Reserve champion Limousin shown by Brodie Molloy with judge James Nisbet.
Derrick Forde's Limousin cross heifer which won the Elite Pedigree Genetics' commercial calf championship.
Winner of the Progressive Genetics' and Munster Bovine future champions calf extravaganza for Declan Davis.
Stay tuned for a report online and in this week's Irish Farmers Journal from tomorrow's sale.
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