The second society sale of the year took place in Athenry mart on Thursday 17th of April with a later than usual starting time of 4.30pm for the show and 6.00pm for the sale and what a sale it proved to be! The average price was €6,059, this surpassed the previous society sales record average prices by €101, all bulls presented sold.
With a packed to capacity crowd our auctioneer George Candler was inundated with bids from eager customers – bids coming from both in-house and online. Bulls sold from €4,000 to a top of €8,200.
The pre-sale show was judged by James Russell of the Townleyhall herd based in Drogeda, Co. Louth.
Lot 38. Topping the sale at €8,200 was the Reserve Champion CURRYCRAMP VINISCUS from the Leitrim based herd of Thomas Mulligan. Viniscus is a son of Grangeford Jojo Et (Overall Male Champion at the National Show 2015 – Ampertaine Elgin X Wilodge Vantastic) and Currycramp Isadora (Ampertaine Foreman X Navarin). Fifteen month old Viniscus was the second youngest bull on offer, he was acquired by a Galway based purchaser.
👉To see Reserve Champion CURRYCRAMP VINISCUS in the sales ring Click here👈
Lot 18. Two bulls found new homes at €8,000, first at this price was BALLYKINNCURRA USHER from the Clare based herd of John and Sean Moroney. Usher came to the ring with a Replacement value that is in the top 1% of the breed. He is from very easy calving bloodlines and boasting two copies of the F94L gene. His pedigree includes Erebos, Gamin and Wilodge Cerberus. Usher was purchased by Dovea Genetics to add to their team of outstanding Limousin bulls.
👉To see BALLYKINNCURRA USHER in the sales ring Click here 👈
Lot 22. Also at €8,000 was the second prize KELTIC UMPH, one of four bulls forward from Teleri Thomas’ Meath based herd. Umph is a son of Nebbiolo, with Tomschoice Lexicon and Homebyers Visitor also in his lineage. This eyecatching young bull was the pick of a local farmer.
👉To see KELTIC UMPH in the sales ring Click here👈
Lot 24. Mervyn Kneafsey of Ballina, Co. Mayo took home €7,500 for his October 2023 born SHANKLOUGH UNIQUE. This young bull is a son of Ewdenvale Ivor, his dam Shanklough Pamela is a daughter of Milan Mackintosh. Unique was purchased by a Galway based purchaser.
👉To see SHANKLOUGH UNIQUE in the sales ring Click here👈
Lot 28. CORCAMORE U 2 presented by Orla Curtin, Clarina, Co. Limerick sold for €7,400. U 2 is a son of the renowned EBY (Elderberry Galahad). He placed fourth in his class in the pre-sale show. He has two copies of the F94L gene. His dam Grangeford Kathryn is a daughter of Ampertaine Commander. U 2 was acquired by a Ballinasloe based purchaser.
👉To see CORCAMORE U 2 in the sales ring Click here👈
Lot 25. James tapped out LISNAGEERAGH UNISON as his Champion. Unison is a son of Brooklands Marco and Lisnageeragh Rozann. Eighteen month old Unison has two copies of the F94L gene. After a flurry of bids he was snapped up by a county Meath based herd for €7,100. Unison was bred by Des Joyce, Williamstown, Co. Galway.
👉To see Champion LISNAGEERAGH UNISON in the sales ring Click here 👈
Lot 29. Castlebar bred CURRANE UPTON realised a prize of €7,100 for Michael McKeown. Upton has Hector Gd, Emerson and Sarkley Pepsi in his sire stack. He place third in his class. He was purchased by Wicklow based farm.
👉To see CURRANE UPTON in the sales ring Click here👈
Lot 35. The Mereside Godolphin son SKEALON VAN DYKE sold for €7,100. Van Dyke is from the Cavan based herd of Patrick O’Reilly. His dam Ballinrahin Lisa 2 Et is a daughter of the Ampertaine Foreman. Van Dyke is a double F94L carrier. He now heads to a new home in county Meath.
👉To see SKEALON VAN DYKE in the sales ring Click here👈
Lot 37. Four bulls broke the €6,000 mark. Top-call for the second prize winner CURRYCRAMP VALENCIA was €6,600. Fifteen month old Valencia is a son of Glenrock Redemption and the Tomschoice Ironstone dam Currycramp Miranda. Valencia was bred in county Leitrim by Thomas Mulligan.
👉To see CURRYCRAMP VALENCIA in the sales ring Click here👈
Lot 40. The youngest bull on offer MOOHANE VALENTINO sold for €6,300. Valentino is the first son of Graiggoch Rambo to come to auction. He has one copy of F94L gene and one copy of the Q204X gene. Valentino’s dam Moohane Kitty is a daughter of Ampertiane Foreman. He was purchased by a Wicklow based purchaser.
👉To see MOOHANE VALENTINO in the sales ring Click here👈
Lot 12. The Keltic herd accepted €6,200 for their Tomschoice Lexicon first prize winner KELTIC UROX. Born in August 2023 to a first calving heifer – Keltic Roxy, a daughter of Ewdenvale Ivor. Urox is a double carrier of the F94L gene, he found a new abode in county Meath.
👉To see KELTIC UROX in the sales ring Click here👈
Lot 15. Fourth prize KELTIC UTHER PENDRAGON sold for €6,000. Uther Pendaragon is a son of Jaurel and the Ampertaine Foreman dam Keltic Jacaranda. This 19 month old bull is rated in the top 1% of the breed for milk. He was acquired by a Galway based herd.
👉To see KELTIC UTHER PENDRAGON in the sales ring Click here👈
Lot 5. Sean Garrett, of Ballycastle, Co. Mayo presented first prize AMMAGHMORE ULYSSES at the sale. Ulysses sold for €5,800. He is a son of Telfers Munster and Ammaghmore Hazel (Ampertaine Commander X Milbrook Tanko). Ulysses carries two copies of the F94L gene.
Lot 33. Third prize winner MOOHANE UMPIRE commanded a price of €5,600. Umpire was bred by John Meehan of Newmarket On Fergus, Co. Clare. Umpire is a fifteen month old son of Record. He carries two copies of the NT821 gene.
Lot 9. Frank Philbin, Castlebar, Co. Mayo presented Second prize CLYDAGH USMAN 2 in Athenry. Usman 2 has Tomschoice Lexicon, Sympa and Ronick Hawk in his sire stack. This double carrier of the F94L gene was acquired by a Galway farmer for €5,100.
Lot 20. At the same price of €5,100 was second prize winner AMMAGHMORE UTOPIA from the herd of Sean Garrett. Utopia is a son of Tomschoice Lexicon, with Wilodge Cerberus and Omer-Mn in his back pedigree. September 2023 born Utopia found a new home in a NI based herd.
Lot 36. Heading to Kerry is fourth prize winner LISPHILLIP VAN DER VALK. This fifteen month old bull was bred by Paul Kelly, Castlebar. Van Der Valk is a son of Kaprico Eravelle, with Mereside Godolphin and Abot Mn in his back pedigree. He has two copies of the F94L gene and sold for €4,700.
Lot 2. The oldest bull on offer was the fourth prize winner DRUMLINE ULRIC. This bull’s sire stack includes Goldies Terence, Sympa and Bavardage. He was bred by James Hannon, Bunratty, Co. Clare and will return to this home county having sold for €4,600.
Lot 3. Also presented by James Hannon was LAKE UNITY, a third prize winner. Unity is a son of Excel and the Doudou dam Lake Nadia. He has two copies of the F94L gene. Unity was tapped down at €4,500 to a Galway based purchaser.
Lot 13. Teleri Thomas presented the third prize winner KELTIC UNESCO. Born in August 2023, Unesco has Hector Gd, Ampertaine Foreman and Ionesco in his sire stack. He has one copy of the F94L and one copy of the Q204X genes. Unesco was purchased by a Galway farmer for €4,300.
Lot 14. By the same sire was SKEALON UNASSISTED from the herd of Patrick O’Reilly, Doogarry, Co. Cavan. Unassisted has two copies of the F94L gene. His dam Skealon Rihanna is a daughter of Wilodge Cerberus. Unassisted was the pick of a Donegal purchaser for €4,100.
Lot 23. Heading to Clare is Frank Philbin’s CLYDAGH UMAR for €4,000. Umar has Lodge Hamlet, Cloughhead Umpire and Sympa in his pedigree. He has a copy of the F94L gene and a copy of the NT821.
Next Sale
Our next sale will be the Premier Bull and heifer sale in Roscrea Mart on Saturday the 3rd of May. Catalogue coming Next week!!
Thank you
Many thanks to all bidders and exhibitors at this sale.
We wish the successful purchasers the very best of luck with their new stock bulls.
Thanks to auctioneer George, judge James, Stewards Ann Hester, Michael McInerney and Michael Phillips.
Thanks to the management and staff of Athenry mart and to the Limousin Society office – Marie, Veronica and Karina.
Many thanks to photographer Alfie Shaw.
To quote George Candler:
Lean on Limousin!
