Our Annual Spring Premier show and sale was held on Sunday and Monday the 15^th and 16^th March in Roscrea mart. As we are living in the most unprecedented times the show and sale was held under strict governmental guidelines. A limit of 100 people was put in place in both the show and sale rings. To ensure anyone that wished to see the bulls we had Patricia Kennedy in action recording the show section on Sunday evening, we then had Denis Barrett Auctions on hand with a live feed and online bidding facility on Monday. We are very appreciative of breeders and customers alike for their understanding and support of the necessary measures that were taken to ensure best practice to protect everyone.

The show was judged by Mr. Martin Conway of the noted Craigatoke herd based in Plumbridge, Co. Tyrone. The Craigatoke herd has enjoyed much success in the show and sales rings of Northern Ireland and the UK, Craigatoke Jack – one of the stock sires to the Ardlea Elite herd was bred by Martin. Jack was purchased in Carlisle in 2015 having placed first in his class and Reserve Junior Champion for 17,000gns. We are very grateful to Martin for undertaking the role of judge at short notice.

Many thanks to our stewards Ann and Donal, to the Inspector Pat McGuinness and to the management and staff of Roscrea mart for all their assistance. Many thanks to George our auctioneer and to Patricia and Denis. We would like to wish all purchasers the very best of luck with their new livestock. Our next sale is on this Saturday the 21^st March in Tullamore, Co. Offaly.

The clearance rate was 67% with an average selling price of €3,394.

Martin tapped out NOVINCHRISTIE NICHOLAS as his Senior Champion.  Nicholas is an August 2018 born son of Norman Inventor and the homebred Ronick Hawk daughter Novinchristie Isadora. Bred in Swinford, Co. Mayo by Noel Barry, Nicholas came to the ring with five star ratings in Replacement index, Terminal index, Carcass weight, Carcass conformation and Daughter Milk. After a flurry of bids Nicholas was tapped down to a county Dublin based farmer for €8,000.

Standing in reserve to Nicholas was SLIABH FELIM NODDY from Sean Ryan, Cappamore, Co. Limerick. Noddy is a son of Ampertaine Foreman and Sliabh Felim Jenny (mother to last year’s top-priced bull €11,000 Mourinho and Leo (sold in 2018 for €5,000)). Noddy was born in August 2018 and came to the ring with an array of five star ratings and a muscle score of 136 which is in the top 3%. Noddy was purchased by Matthew Harrison, Portadown, Co. Armagh for €5,000.

The Junior Champion BOS NERO was bred by Joe Collins from Carrick On Shannon, Co. Roscommon. Nero is an eye-catching 15 month old son of Goldies Jackpot and the home bred Ampertaine Commander dam Bos Julie. With an array of five star ratings Nero caught the eye of Gerard Keane for his herd based in Kinvara, Co. Galway. Nero’s selling price was €4,400.

The Reserve Junior Champion FINBOY NIKE found a new home in the stunning surrounds of North Yorkshire. Nike was purchased by Chris Akrigg of Manor Farm, Skipton to run with a commercial herd of Limousin and British Blue cows. Nike was bred by Tom Harney of Birr, Co. Offaly. He is a son of Plumtree Fantastic with Ampertaine Elgin and Grahams Samson also in his lineage. The hammer fell at €4,000 for Nike.

Last year’s 1st prize winner at the Clare Calf finals MOUNT SCOTT NICK ET also realised €4,000. Nick was bred in county Clare by Ahey Bridge Farms Limited. He is an August 2018 born embryo son of Ampertaine Foreman and Mount Scott Eileen (a Milou-Mn daughter). Nick took the blue rosette in his class and was purchased by Eamonn Rodger, Tubber, Co. Clare.

The multi-starred Bavardage son KELTIC NOAH also sold for €4,000. Noah was bred by Teleri Thomas, Longwood, Co. Meath. His dam is the Ampertaine Foreman daughter Keltic Iona. Born in September 2018, third prize winner Noah was acquired by Thomas Cosgrave, Broadford, Co. Clare.

OLDTOWN NOTORIOUS a Ronick Hawk son bred by William Hogan, Thurles, Co. Tipperary was the final bull to breach the €4,000 mark. Notorious has five star ratings in almost all traits and came to the ring with a predicted calving difficulty of 3.4% on beef cows. Notorious was purchased by David Connor of Mountrath, Co. Laois.

TEMPLEQUAIN NAPOLEON a fourth prize winner bred by Thomas O’Shea, Portlaoise, Co. Laois realised €3,900. Napoleon is a November 2018 born son of Derrygullinane Kingbull and Templequain Kylie. Michael Finn from Portlaoise purchased Napoleon.

The second prize winner RUTLAND NELSON sold for €3,600. Nelson was bred by Noel Ruttledge, Co. Mayo. He is a son of Ampertaine Commander and the Ampertaine Elgin daughter Dromullin Kerry Et. Nelson was purchased by Henry Hynes of Kilfenora, Co. Clare.

NEWTOWN NAVIGATOR from the Richardson family, Newtowngore, Co. Leitrim sold for €3,600. Navigator has Ampertaine Abracadabra, Procter Cavalier and Wilodge Cerberus in his sire stack. Multi-stared Naviagator sold to Daire Donnelly, Bailieboro, Co. Cavan.

Ciaran Smith of the Cnoc Rua herd based in Redhills, Co. Cavan presented four bulls at the sale, top priced bull of the four was September 2019 born CNOC RUA NIGHTHAWK at €3,500. Nighthawk is a son of Goldies Jackpot and Carwin Export (a Sauvignon daughter). Described as “a bull that has more stars than a frosty night” first prize winning Nighthawk was purchased by Shane McGeough.

CNOC RUA NOTORIOUS sold for €3,400   to Michael Dunphy, Butlerstown. Fourth prize winner Notorious has Ampertaine Gigolo, Swarland Eddie and Wilodge Cerberus in his sire stack.

Also from Ciaran Smith came CNOC RUA NEILLY, an August 2018 born son of Elderberry Galahad and the Wilodge Tonka dam Cnoc Rua Kala. Multi-starred Neilly was purchased by James Melia, Kells, Co. Meath for €3,100.

The final Cnoc Rua bred bull was CNOC RUA NEWLAND, a Lodge Hamlet son. Newland, a second prize winner is out of the Ampertaine Foreman dam Cnoc Rua Lena. Tim Ryan from Birr purchased Newland for €3,100.

The Plumtree Fantastic son BROOKLANDS NOAH sold for €3,400. Noah was bred by Clive Jennings, Enniskeane, Co. Cork. His dam Brookland Ivette has Queenshead Altea and Ronick Hawk in her sire stack. First prize winning Noah was purchased by a UK based farmer.

CARRICKMORE NEYMAR ET from John and Karol Connell, Oldcastle, Co. Meath sold for €3,300. Neymar is a second prize winning embryo son of Wilodge Cerberus and the renowned Baileys Iceprincess – ILC Champion 2016, Tullamore Champion 2015 and 2016 and Balmoral Champion 2015. Neymar was purchased by the Llwynybrain Herd of John Yeomans Powys, Wales.

Helen Meaney of Lissycasey, Co. Clare accepted €3,200 for her Castleview Gazelle bull LIOSMEAN NELSON. This October 2018 born bull is out of the Ulm daughter Liosmean Lass. Nelso was purchased by a UK based customer.

John and Tom Hickey from Thurles, Co. Tipperary sold BROOKLAND NESSAN for €3,200. Fifteen month old Nessan has Elderberry Galahad, Vison and Ramses in his sire stack. This third prize winner was acquired by James Alexander of the noted Jalex herd based in Toomebridge, Co. Antrim.

Three bulls realised €3,000. First at this price was an Ampertaine Foreman son KELTIC NIGHTRIDER. September 2018 born Nightrider was bred by Teleri Thomas. This red rosette winner was purchased by Thomas Kelly from Ballybrophy, Co. Laois.

Noel Freyne, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny purchased second prize winner MILAN NORDIC for €3,000. Nordic has Vagabond, Haltcliffe Dancer and Ronick Hawk in his pedigree. Nordic was bred by Donal Mckeon, Enniscrone, Co. Sligo.

The final bull at this price was THE GROVE FARM NUDDLE from Bernard Garrett, Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan. Nuddle, a son of Norman Inventor was purchased by GB Jones Ltd, from the UK.

Others

THE GROVE FARM P 381, a son of Ewdenvale Ivor              €2,900

NEWTOWN NEW HOLLAND, a son of Wilodge Tonka        €2,800

BRIDGEEN NEILIE, a son of Goldies Jackpot           €2,800

BOS PRIMUS, a son of Ampertaine Commander €2,800

MOUNT SCOTT NIGEL ET, a son of Ampertaine Foreman €2,700

FINBOY PRINCE, a son of Wildoge Cerberus          €2,600

ALOOR NEPTUNE, a son of Keltic Handsome         €2,500

BOYANAGH NEPTUNE, a son of Lodge Hamlet      €2,500

CORAGHY NIGEL, a son of Portauns Kilcruig           €2500

CORLEA NERO, a son of Haltcliffe Gunner              €2,200