Producing a champion at the Carrick Winter Fair is something many have tried but few have accomplished. As the standard keeps on rising year on year, even a red rosette is becoming more and more elusive.
But one teen duo seems to have found the key, winning three champions in a row at the prestigious event. The Dolan family from Finn Valley in Co Donegal captured the overall senior champion Belgian Blue in 2023, 2024 and again in 2025.
This week we spoke to 16-year-old Liam Dolan, who runs the herd along with his sister Katie, who is just 15-years-old.
“The herd was founded by my grandfather Anthony who always had a liking for good cattle,” said Liam.
“Today, the farm is owned by our father William and our uncle Eugene, who run a livestock exporting business alongside the family farm.
“Winning the senior Belgian Blue champion at the Carrick Winter Fair for the last three years in a row is something we are really proud of.”
Carrick champions
In 2023, the Dolans claimed the top prize in the senior Belgian Blue section with “Top Trump” who went on to sell for €8,300.
Liam Dolan and judge John Cahalane with the senior champion Belgian Blue that sold for the second highest price of €8,300 at the Winter Fair in 2023. \Tricia Kennedy
In 2024, “Diva” won the overall senior Belgian Blue championship and went on to sell for €18,000. The Dolan’s third heifer to win the Championship in 2025 was “Miss Dior” who they bred themselves and has been retained for breeding.
As well as securing the supreme champion in 2025, the pair also sold another Belgian Blue cross heifer for €15,000.
“Me and my sister Katie have always had a liking for showing commercial cattle from when we were very small. We first started showing at the Winter Fair in Carrick-on-Shannon in 2021 with ‘Ms Goldmine’, a Charolais cross heifer calf,” Liam recalled.
Liam and Katie Dolan's Belgian Blue cross heifer which was senior champion Belgian Blue in 2024 and sold for the top price of €18,000. / Tricia Kennedy
“We always wanted to have a calf to show but were too young at the time. Then one day I was in the yard with my father when my uncle Eugene rang to say we needed to get a cow in milk, because he had bought us a calf that we could show in Carrick. That was the start of it.”
Ounce of breeding
The Dolans don’t carry a big number of cows themselves and like to focus on quality over quantity.
“Our farm is very busy, so we don’t have a big suckler herd, as we don’t have the time to run it alongside everything else. However, me and Katie value quality over quantity when it comes to our passion for show stock. We like to keep a few and keep them good.”
Katie Dolan with their Belgian Blue cross heifer which sold for €15,000 at the Winter Fair in 2025. \ Swarber Photography
Instead, Liam and Katie both really enjoy spotting a nice store animal with potential and seeing if they can turn it into a show winning animal. Liam remembers his grandfather’s advice, “an ounce of breeding is worth a tonne of feeding”.
According to Liam, it isn’t always the best weanling that makes the best mature animal. “More often than not, the really fancy weanling doesn’t turn out to be the best mature animal.”
Belgian Blue blood
The Dolans are currently flushing a number of cows to produce what they hope to be the next show calves.
“We find the ideal cow has to have Belgian Blue blood to produce them top calves. In the flush we used the Belgian Blue bull Delure De La Beole from Progressive Genetics. We put a lot of emphasis on correctness and legs. We find a good structure is the most important thing to start with, the rest will follow.”
The vibrant trade for commercial show cattle at present is something Liam and Katie are relishing.
“What’s happening at the minute in the commercial cattle scene is like a dream come true for me and Katie. We have a deep-rooted passion for commercial show cattle ever since we were able to walk and only in the last few years has it really kicked into gear,” Liam added.
Rewarding hobby
The 2025 Carrick Winter Fair seen prices as high as €33,500 for a Belgian Blue cross heifer calf, breaking the 20-year-old record price for an animal at the showgrounds.
“The record-breaking prices and the promotion of Irish commercial show cattle being put in the spotlight is great to see, because in our opinion it is the best and most rewarding hobby for a young farmer to have,” said Liam.
Katie and Liam Dolan's Belgian Blue cross heifer which sold for €7,600 in 2024. / Tricia Kennedy
Having got off to such a remarkable start in the showring, the Donegal native believes there is a bright future for farming and has big aspirations for the years ahead.
“Farming in Ireland is looking really bright as the amount of young people interested in farming is becoming more and more every year. I’m sure there will be changes down the line, but we will adapt to whatever comes next,” said Liam.
“Our plans for the future are to keep focusing on breeding the perfect calf. With a record-breaking price of €33,500 this year, who knows, it could be broken again in the years to come. We certainly wouldn’t mind producing that calf,” Liam laughed.
Liam Dolan with the senior champion Belgian Blue at the 2025 Carrick Winter Fair. \ Swarber photography
Producing a champion at the Carrick Winter Fair is something many have tried but few have accomplished. As the standard keeps on rising year on year, even a red rosette is becoming more and more elusive.
But one teen duo seems to have found the key, winning three champions in a row at the prestigious event. The Dolan family from Finn Valley in Co Donegal captured the overall senior champion Belgian Blue in 2023, 2024 and again in 2025.
This week we spoke to 16-year-old Liam Dolan, who runs the herd along with his sister Katie, who is just 15-years-old.
“The herd was founded by my grandfather Anthony who always had a liking for good cattle,” said Liam.
“Today, the farm is owned by our father William and our uncle Eugene, who run a livestock exporting business alongside the family farm.
“Winning the senior Belgian Blue champion at the Carrick Winter Fair for the last three years in a row is something we are really proud of.”
Carrick champions
In 2023, the Dolans claimed the top prize in the senior Belgian Blue section with “Top Trump” who went on to sell for €8,300.
Liam Dolan and judge John Cahalane with the senior champion Belgian Blue that sold for the second highest price of €8,300 at the Winter Fair in 2023. \Tricia Kennedy
In 2024, “Diva” won the overall senior Belgian Blue championship and went on to sell for €18,000. The Dolan’s third heifer to win the Championship in 2025 was “Miss Dior” who they bred themselves and has been retained for breeding.
As well as securing the supreme champion in 2025, the pair also sold another Belgian Blue cross heifer for €15,000.
“Me and my sister Katie have always had a liking for showing commercial cattle from when we were very small. We first started showing at the Winter Fair in Carrick-on-Shannon in 2021 with ‘Ms Goldmine’, a Charolais cross heifer calf,” Liam recalled.
Liam and Katie Dolan's Belgian Blue cross heifer which was senior champion Belgian Blue in 2024 and sold for the top price of €18,000. / Tricia Kennedy
“We always wanted to have a calf to show but were too young at the time. Then one day I was in the yard with my father when my uncle Eugene rang to say we needed to get a cow in milk, because he had bought us a calf that we could show in Carrick. That was the start of it.”
Ounce of breeding
The Dolans don’t carry a big number of cows themselves and like to focus on quality over quantity.
“Our farm is very busy, so we don’t have a big suckler herd, as we don’t have the time to run it alongside everything else. However, me and Katie value quality over quantity when it comes to our passion for show stock. We like to keep a few and keep them good.”
Katie Dolan with their Belgian Blue cross heifer which sold for €15,000 at the Winter Fair in 2025. \ Swarber Photography
Instead, Liam and Katie both really enjoy spotting a nice store animal with potential and seeing if they can turn it into a show winning animal. Liam remembers his grandfather’s advice, “an ounce of breeding is worth a tonne of feeding”.
According to Liam, it isn’t always the best weanling that makes the best mature animal. “More often than not, the really fancy weanling doesn’t turn out to be the best mature animal.”
Belgian Blue blood
The Dolans are currently flushing a number of cows to produce what they hope to be the next show calves.
“We find the ideal cow has to have Belgian Blue blood to produce them top calves. In the flush we used the Belgian Blue bull Delure De La Beole from Progressive Genetics. We put a lot of emphasis on correctness and legs. We find a good structure is the most important thing to start with, the rest will follow.”
The vibrant trade for commercial show cattle at present is something Liam and Katie are relishing.
“What’s happening at the minute in the commercial cattle scene is like a dream come true for me and Katie. We have a deep-rooted passion for commercial show cattle ever since we were able to walk and only in the last few years has it really kicked into gear,” Liam added.
Rewarding hobby
The 2025 Carrick Winter Fair seen prices as high as €33,500 for a Belgian Blue cross heifer calf, breaking the 20-year-old record price for an animal at the showgrounds.
“The record-breaking prices and the promotion of Irish commercial show cattle being put in the spotlight is great to see, because in our opinion it is the best and most rewarding hobby for a young farmer to have,” said Liam.
Katie and Liam Dolan's Belgian Blue cross heifer which sold for €7,600 in 2024. / Tricia Kennedy
Having got off to such a remarkable start in the showring, the Donegal native believes there is a bright future for farming and has big aspirations for the years ahead.
“Farming in Ireland is looking really bright as the amount of young people interested in farming is becoming more and more every year. I’m sure there will be changes down the line, but we will adapt to whatever comes next,” said Liam.
“Our plans for the future are to keep focusing on breeding the perfect calf. With a record-breaking price of €33,500 this year, who knows, it could be broken again in the years to come. We certainly wouldn’t mind producing that calf,” Liam laughed.
Liam Dolan with the senior champion Belgian Blue at the 2025 Carrick Winter Fair. \ Swarber photography
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