Michael O'Leary's annual Gigginstown House Angus sale attracted massive crowds on Saturday, resulting in a full clearance for the 41 animals that went through the ring.
Conducted by Ballyjamesduff Mart through MartEye, the sale witnessed significant ringside and online activity.
Buyers flocked from all over the country to Fennor Farm, as the average price for heifers rose almost €600 from the 2025 sale, settling at €5,210.
Lady Gatsby
The highlight of the sale came when Gigginstown Lady Gatsby A942 trotted her way to €9,600, setting a new record price at the herd's annual event.
A two-year-old daughter of Drumcrow Polar Express Y070, this tremendous-headed heifer is out of the Schivas Elijah U645-bred cow Gigginstown Lady Alcatraz X442.
She came with a four-star within breed replacement index of €145 and sold in-calf to the herd's old stalwart Ebon Hill Extra Gold. Adding her to his pedigree fold in Co Cavan was Leo McEnroe of the Lisduff Angus herd.
Shortly before this, the much-admired Gigginstown Templar Rose A914 sold for €8,200 to Country Crest Farm in Co Dublin.
A daughter of Liss Martin W951, this 25-month-old heifer goes back to Liss Maxy and Friarstown Lord Big on her dam's side.
Carrying a two-star within breed replacement index of €111 and above-average calving figures, she sold in-calf to Gigginstown Lord Belvin.
Gigginstown Templar Rose A914 sold for €8,200. \ A Moore Media
Up next at €6,500 was Gigginstown Baroness A980, a September 2024-born daughter of Stouphill Master Prince W346.
Scanned in-calf to Ebon Hill Extra Gold, she packed a four-star within breed replacement index of €157 and sold to Seamus Costello from Co Galway.
Gigginstown Black Lotus A006 wasn't far behind at €6,400. A daughter of Drumcrow Twenty Twenty, this September 2024-born heifer offered buyers a three-star replacement index of €139 and sold in-calf to Gigginstown Lord Belvin.
Bull trade
The average price for bulls was slightly down on last year's sale from €5,350 to €5,050.
Demand was particularly strong for the small number of red bulls in the sale, as Gigginstown Red Eagle A10 commanded the highest price of €6,300.
A son of Coolderry Red Uncle Buck, this September 2024-born bull came to auction with a three-star replacement index of €131 and a two-star terminal index of €58.
He was purchased by David Hough from Co Limerick, who plans to run Eagle with his herd of pedigree Shorthorn cows.
Gigginstown Red Eagle A010 was the highest-priced bull at €6,300. \ Tricia Kennedy
Two bulls went under the hammer at €6,200.
The first to do so was Gigginstown A Captain Ebonhill A964, a 20-month-old son of Stouphill Master Prince W346 and Captainshill Sarah.
This powerful well-made bull came with a page of stars and ranked in the top 20% of the breed for calving on beef cows and heifers.
He was quickly followed at the same money by Gigginstown Drumroll A975, a September 2024-born son of Drumcrow Twenty Twenty.
Out of the Aughnamona Nando-bred cow Gigginstown Dawn Run, he ranks in the top 20% of the breed for gestation and milk.
Commenting on the sale, Michael O'Leary said: “We were delighted with the huge turnout at our 30-year anniversary sale. We were very pleased to see bright sunshine and large crowds.
"While the trade for bulls was a little softer than 2025, which is to be expected given the recent fall in market prices, the demand for our females broke new records, smashing through the €5,000 mark.
"We wish to sincerely thank all those dairy and pedigree breeders who supported this year's sale.
"We look forward to celebrating our 30-year Angus anniversary with an online elite female sale on Saturday 8 August. Details of this one-off elite female sale will be released shortly by our partners Ballyjamesduff Mart and MartEye."
Michael O'Leary's annual Gigginstown House Angus sale attracted massive crowds on Saturday, resulting in a full clearance for the 41 animals that went through the ring.
Conducted by Ballyjamesduff Mart through MartEye, the sale witnessed significant ringside and online activity.
Buyers flocked from all over the country to Fennor Farm, as the average price for heifers rose almost €600 from the 2025 sale, settling at €5,210.
Lady Gatsby
The highlight of the sale came when Gigginstown Lady Gatsby A942 trotted her way to €9,600, setting a new record price at the herd's annual event.
A two-year-old daughter of Drumcrow Polar Express Y070, this tremendous-headed heifer is out of the Schivas Elijah U645-bred cow Gigginstown Lady Alcatraz X442.
She came with a four-star within breed replacement index of €145 and sold in-calf to the herd's old stalwart Ebon Hill Extra Gold. Adding her to his pedigree fold in Co Cavan was Leo McEnroe of the Lisduff Angus herd.
Shortly before this, the much-admired Gigginstown Templar Rose A914 sold for €8,200 to Country Crest Farm in Co Dublin.
A daughter of Liss Martin W951, this 25-month-old heifer goes back to Liss Maxy and Friarstown Lord Big on her dam's side.
Carrying a two-star within breed replacement index of €111 and above-average calving figures, she sold in-calf to Gigginstown Lord Belvin.
Gigginstown Templar Rose A914 sold for €8,200. \ A Moore Media
Up next at €6,500 was Gigginstown Baroness A980, a September 2024-born daughter of Stouphill Master Prince W346.
Scanned in-calf to Ebon Hill Extra Gold, she packed a four-star within breed replacement index of €157 and sold to Seamus Costello from Co Galway.
Gigginstown Black Lotus A006 wasn't far behind at €6,400. A daughter of Drumcrow Twenty Twenty, this September 2024-born heifer offered buyers a three-star replacement index of €139 and sold in-calf to Gigginstown Lord Belvin.
Bull trade
The average price for bulls was slightly down on last year's sale from €5,350 to €5,050.
Demand was particularly strong for the small number of red bulls in the sale, as Gigginstown Red Eagle A10 commanded the highest price of €6,300.
A son of Coolderry Red Uncle Buck, this September 2024-born bull came to auction with a three-star replacement index of €131 and a two-star terminal index of €58.
He was purchased by David Hough from Co Limerick, who plans to run Eagle with his herd of pedigree Shorthorn cows.
Gigginstown Red Eagle A010 was the highest-priced bull at €6,300. \ Tricia Kennedy
Two bulls went under the hammer at €6,200.
The first to do so was Gigginstown A Captain Ebonhill A964, a 20-month-old son of Stouphill Master Prince W346 and Captainshill Sarah.
This powerful well-made bull came with a page of stars and ranked in the top 20% of the breed for calving on beef cows and heifers.
He was quickly followed at the same money by Gigginstown Drumroll A975, a September 2024-born son of Drumcrow Twenty Twenty.
Out of the Aughnamona Nando-bred cow Gigginstown Dawn Run, he ranks in the top 20% of the breed for gestation and milk.
Commenting on the sale, Michael O'Leary said: “We were delighted with the huge turnout at our 30-year anniversary sale. We were very pleased to see bright sunshine and large crowds.
"While the trade for bulls was a little softer than 2025, which is to be expected given the recent fall in market prices, the demand for our females broke new records, smashing through the €5,000 mark.
"We wish to sincerely thank all those dairy and pedigree breeders who supported this year's sale.
"We look forward to celebrating our 30-year Angus anniversary with an online elite female sale on Saturday 8 August. Details of this one-off elite female sale will be released shortly by our partners Ballyjamesduff Mart and MartEye."
SHARING OPTIONS