On Saturday 21 March, the Irish Charolais Cattle Society produced one of its best sales in recent times at its premier show and sale in Elphin Mart.

The society's premier sale always attracts some of the finest Charolais cattle in the country and this year was no different.

Demand for bulls rocketed, as 41 Charolais bulls traded to a record average of €7,800, resulting in an 86% clearance.

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A remarkable nine bulls sold for €10,000 or more, as Irish and Northern Irish customers competed hard against one another.

Bite for heifers was not just as strong, as 65% of the 14 heifers in attendance sold to an average of €6,177.

Golden Goldstar

All eyes were on junior champion Goldstar Abraham ET, as he sold for the highest price of €16,400 for Tipperary breeders Martin Ryan and family.

A son of the French-bred bull Neptune, his mother Goldstar Shirley Temple ET is a daughter of Ballym Mylove and goes back to the imported French cow Goldstar Pannacotta.

Carrying two copies of the profit gene, this January 2025-born bull came in at breed average on calving and packed a five-star terminal index of €175.

After a crossfire of ringside and online bids, he was secured by Adrian McLoughlin from Co Galway.

Goldstar Abraham ET selling for €16,400

Having claimed the overall intermediate championship under judge David Bothwell in the morning show, Derryolam Vesper went on to sell for €13,600 for Monaghan breeder Niall McNally.

Born in November 2024, Vesper is a son of Texan Gie and out of a CF52-bred dam.

Possessing one copy of the Q204X gene and ranking in the top 40% of the breed on the terminal index, he will now join Colm and Louise Quinn's pedigree fold in Co Offaly.

Derryolam Vesper selling for €13,600

Breaghwyhill pair

Retailing at €12,400 was Eamon and Daniel O'Connor's Breaghwyhill Alfie 2 ET.

A second-prizewinner in the youngest bull class of the day, this February 2025-born son of Neptune is out of a Texan Gie-bred dam.

He went to auction with a three-star within breed terminal index of €142 and was snapped up by Hugh Crawford from Northern Ireland.

Breaghwyhill Alfie 2 ET selling for €12,400

The father and son duo also realised €11,000 for the reserve junior champion Breaghwyhill All Star ET.

Also sired by Neptune, his dam Liscally My Fair Lady 3 ET goes back to the famous Liscally Blossom. Snapping up this February 2025-born bull was Michael O'Reilly for his top-end suckler herd in Co Leitrim.

Longford breeders Mark and Harry Noble forked out €12,200 for Nolagh Adam.

Bred and exhibited by Cavan breeder Martin Shevlin, Adam is a January 2025-born son of the society's AI bull SG Nenuphar and a Newhouse Bigal dam.

A third-prizewinner in his class and carrying two copies of the F94L gene, he came to auction with a whopping terminal index of €191.

Nolagh Adam selling for €12,200

The Quin family from Co Clare then received a call of €11,400 for the reserve intermediate champion Clenagh2 Valiant ET.

Homebred on both sides, sired by the former Christmas Cracker champion Clenagh Lyle going back to a long line of Clenagh females, this 15-month-old bull boasted a five-star terminal index of €182 and was acquired by a west Cavan suckler farmer.

Females

Leading the ladies at €9,800 was Crossane4 VIP ET for the McGovern brothers from Co Sligo.

Draped with the female championship sash from the pre-sale show, this stylish September 2024-born daughter of Texan Gie is out of one of the herd's foundation females MacMelvin Georgina.

With a number of Crossane breeding stock acquired over recent years, Richard Beattie from Northern Ireland added her to his pedigree fold.

Crossane4 VIP ET selling for €9,800

Gallaway Alanagh rounded off an incredible day for her sire Neptune when she claimed the reserve female championship and the second-highest female price of €8,000.

Bred and exhibited by Michael Kiernan from Co Leitrim, she will now join Patrick Hughes's pedigree enterprise in Co Cavan.

Gallaway Alanagh selling for €8,000