The Simmental Premier Sale, which took place at Roscommon Mart on Saturday last October 25th, was described by many long-time exhibitors as the best to date. Top-quality bulls were in keen demand, and the heifer section recorded a clearance rate of over 98%.
All Photos are courtesy of Wm Mc Elroy Photography
Setting the headlines was the Clonagh Team of Garrett & Lyndsey Behan, Ballyfin, Portlaoise, when selling their Senior Bull Champion, Clonagh Sammy Fabulous, for €25000. This May `24 born bull is sired by Herd Sire Coltfield Murry and is out of a Brideville Freddy dam Clonagh Nelly Fabby. The pre-sale judge, Hannah Wood from the Popes Herd in the UK, had no hesitation in tapping this quality bull forward as her Senior Bull Champion, and her placing was matched in the sales ring. Purchasing this bull was Hazel McNee, for her Finlarg Herd in Scotland. Hazel had, in fact, placed Sammy Fabulous as Overall Simmental Champion when she judged The National Simmental Show at Tullamore in August.
Reserve Senior Bull Champion also went to the Behan Family with Clonagh Sire Bella Posh, another May `24 born bull again sired by Coltfield Murry, this time out of a Manor Park Hansome dam Clonagh La Bella Glam Posh. This stylish bull sold for export to N. Ireland at €9500.
Junior Bull Champion went to Tony O`Leary, Co. Cork, with Seaview Sergeant, a December `24 born bull who only in September, captured the National Senior Bull Calf Championship at the Ploughing. This Coose Lincoln sired bull is out of a Curaheen Earp Dam, Carbery Nightstar. €6500 was the sale price here to a Co. Clare farmer.
Reserve Junior went to CIan & Liam Martin, Templederry, Nenagh, with an August ‘`24 born’24-born bull Deerview Stag ET. Sired by Raceview King and out of a Kilbride Farm Dragoon dam, Kickhams Haven, this young bull found a new home in Co. Galway, selling for €5,400
Second highest price in the Bull section of €11,500 went to the youngest bull in the sale Moorglen Samuel exhibited by Shane Silke, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon. Born in late December `24, this ten-month-old bull is sired by Coose Jericho P and out of a Cairnview Snazzy dam Moorglen Latte P. This quality bull was also sold for export when purchased by Jim Goldie for his Newbiemains Herd in Annan, Scotland.
Other notable bull prices included :€9500 to Garrett Behan for Clonagh Sammy Boy, sired by Coltfield Murray.
- €7500 to Kieran & Paul Mullarkey, Ballinful Co. Sligo for Lissadell Storm ET sired by Curaheen Drifter.
- €7200 to the Brangan Family, Jullianstown Co. Meath for Cloverland Sniper, a Saltaire Impressive March `24 born bull.
- €7000 to Garrett Behan for a Coltfield Murry sired bull, Clonagh Supremo Fab.
- €6600 to Tony O`Leary for Seaview Simba P, a Auroch Deuter PP sired bull.
- €6000 to John Joe & Sean Carroll, with Fairymount Spartacus s Curaheen Dickens sired bull.
Overall bulls averaged €6865 with a 53% clearance recorded. This figure was up a staggering €2437 on the 2024 sale, which had a 40% clearance.
Heifers Top at €13,500
In the Female Section, demand was exceptional with keen competition for all the lots. The top price of €13500 went to William & Aisling O`Riordan, Rathcormac, Co. Cork, for Bridgemount Sweet Pie, the Yearling Heifer Champion. This 12-month-old heifer is sired by Coose Jericho P and is out of a Derreen Declan dam, Bridgemount Kitty. Sweet Pie was the National Weanling Heifer Champion at Tullamore in August and was purchased by John Hession, Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo.
The Reserve Yearling Heifer went to Noel & Keith Jagoe, Drinagh, Co. Cork exhibiting Dermody Susie Princess. This 12-month-old heifer is sired by Derreen Jack and is out of a Kilbride Farm Bantry dam Dermody Princes Honey. This heifer went to N. Ireland at €7800
The second highest price of the sale at €13000 came from the Draft Section for Peter & Marion O`Connell for Raceview Ruby Garine 1060. Born in October `23 this Raceview Mattie J Beauty sired heifer is out of a Raceview King dam Raceview Graine Rachel ET. She was purchased by John Moore, Omorga Simmentals Omagh, Co. Tyrone.
The Senior Heifer Champion and Reserve both went to James Kelly, Ennis, Co. Clare, with Mount Rhonda and Mount Rapunzel. The Champion Rhonda, a June ‘`23 born’23-born heifer, is sired by Clonagh Lucky Hansome and out of a Derren Jack dam, Mount Mia ET. The sale price here was €5000. Rapunzel, a Kilbride Farm Comber heifer out of a Kilbride Farm Glencloy dam, Mount Kellie sold for €4000.
Mark Neenan, Loughrea exhibited the Junior Heifer Champion Limehill Spice, a February `24 born heifer sired by Curaheen Gunshot P and an Anatrim Bodybuilder dam Fearna Genie ET. This twin heifer sold for €9500 to a Co. Louth breeder.
Exhibiting the Reserve Junior was the Larkin Family Kylebrack, Loughrea, Co. Galway with Glanville Spancil Rose. €8000 was the selling price of this Curaheen Gunshot P sired heifer and out of Fearna Madame Regal, a Dermotstown Delboy dam.
The Weanling Champion and Reserve went to John Brady, Swinford Co. Mayo with Rabawn Sable and Rabawn Stella respectively. Stable is a November `24 born heifer and is sired by Derreen Jack and is out of Rabawn Princess a Saltire Impressive dam. The selling price here was €5200. While Stella is sired by Ranfurly Klinker and a Kilbride Farm Dragoon dam, Rabawn Madison. This 11-month-old heifer sold for €6000.
Other notable female prices included:
- €12000 for Raceview Sugar Lady 1100 P sired by Raceview Mattie J Beauty and exhibited by Peter & Marion O`Connell.
- €11000 for Raceview Super Lady Ch Mat exhibited by Peter & Marion O`Connell and sired by Raceview Mattie J Beauty.
- €10000 for Raceview Sandy J Beauty Ms again exhibited by Peter & Marion O`Connell and sired by Saltire Impressive.
- €9500 to Sean Brady, Co. Monaghan for Kilkill Super Lady P sired by Curaheen Gunshot P.
- €7800 to Noel & Keith Jagoe for Dermody Sabrina, a Saltire Impressive sired heifer.
- €7200 for Dermody Dermody Spohie, a Herkules heifer exhibited by Noel & Keith Jagoe.
In summary, the heifer trade was exceptional with an average price of €5998 and a clearance rate of 98%. The average price was up a whopping €1950 on the 2024 average while also recording a higher clearance rate, with just one female unsold.
Commenting on the sale, Society General Manager Peadar Glennon was very pleased with the high averages and impressive clearance rates, especially in the female section. The challenge to breeders is very clear, produce quality and the market will react. The top end bulls met with a great demand with a number of customers remaining without a bull following the sale. Peadar, again on behalf of the Society thanked all at Roscommon Mart for their help with the sale, and sale auctioneer Denis Barrett and his team.
He also thanked Hannah Wood for travelling over to Judge and hoped that Hannah, Jimmy & Vicki enjoyed their brief trip to Roscommon. He also thanked the DAFF Officials for their help during the sale and photographer William McIllroy for capturing the key moments.
Peadar concluded by thanking the Society stewards for ensuring the smooth running of the show & sale, exhibitors owe a debt of gratitude to these Stewards who give of their time for the benefit of others.
PHOTO GALLARY OF MOMENTS THROUGHOUT THE DAY
All Photos are courtesy of Wm Mc Elroy Photography
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT