Sale season continued with our second spring Premier held in Roscrea on Saturday 25th April. A catalogue entry of 44 bulls saw 32 presented and resulted in a strong 87.5% clearance rate. Bulls averaged €6,680, with prices ranging from €3,500 to €12,200. In the small entry of six heifers, five sold with a range of €4,300 to €8,000 and an average of €6,400.
The brisk trade at this sale is a direct reflection of the national appeal of the Limousin breed. With Limousin-sired cattle consistently securing top prices in commercial sales rings nationwide, suckler and dairy farmers are reinvesting in genetics that guarantee a return. This confidence was palpable as auctioneers Darren and George managed a flurry of both ringside and online bids.
Our show judge for the day was Kile Diamond of the Pointhouse Herd in Northern Ireland. Kile is a master of the showring having risen through the ranks as a champion young handler. The Diamond family’s herd have bred bulls to a very impressive 42,000gns for Pointhouse Paul who sold in Carlisle in 2021.
Acknowledgements
We wish to thank our auctioneers George Candler and Darren Hession, our judge Kile Diamond, and our stewards Michael Phillips, Pat Sheahan, and Michael McInerney for their professionalism throughout the day. Thanks also to the management and staff of Roscrea Mart and photographer Alfie Shaw.
To the purchasers and under-bidders, thank you for your support of the Limousin breed, we wish you every success with your new stock.
We look forward to seeing you all at our next sale in Roscommon Mart on Saturday, 23rd May. Keep an eye out for the catalogue, which will be released next week.
Exceptional Demand: Consistency at the Top as Trio Exceeds €11,000
Lot 21. The Lyons family from Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo, stole the headlines at the Premier Sale when CARROWNEDEN VOLTAGE sold for the day’s top price of €12,200. Secured by NCBC, this 15-month-old Glenrock Redemption son is a double F94L carrier out of Carrowneden Toff (by Ionesco). Voltage was narrowly beaten into second place in the pre-sale show by the eventual champion. Following intense competition from both ringside and online bidders he was knocked down to NCBC.
Lot 3. The success for Mayo breeders continued with the Reserve Champion Rutland Vic, who commanded a formidable €11,600. Bred in Ballina by Noel Ruttledge, this September 2024-born bull is steeped in Rutland home-breeding. He is sired by Rutland Reuben (currently standing in Progressive Genetics) and out of the Goldies Jackpot daughter, Rutland Rubi. Carrying two copies of the F94L gene, the Reserve Champion sparked a flurry of bids before being secured by a buyer from County Galway.
Lot 19. Show judge Kile Diamond found his Overall Champion in BREMORE VIKING, a powerhouse bull. Bred by Paul and Silvia Flynn, Viking marks the third generation of breeding at Bremore, following in the footsteps of Silvia’s father Bobby and grandfather Larry Jones. A double F94L carrier by Slieve Pablo, Viking added the Champion sash to his class win at the National Show and Reserve NE Bull Calf of the Year title in 2025. The Dublin-bred star was snapped up by a bidder from County Galway.
Super Seven – seven bulls breech €7,000
Lot 7. SHANNON VIKING, commanded €7,800 for breeder Sarah McElligott of Asdee, Co. Kerry. This Nucleon son is an exciting outcross prospect, carrying two copies of the F94L profit gene and with a predicted calving ease of 2% on cows. Out of a Claragh Neymar dam, Viking stood fourth in a strong pre-sale show class and was purchased by a County Clare-based farmer.
Lot 29. The Ernevalley herd of Eddie and Ben Lynch from Loughduff, Co. Cavan presented two Nucleon sons both realizing €7,500. Claiming a red rosette in a competitive class was ERNEVALLEY AZTEC. This January 2025-born double F94L carrier is out of Ernevalley Tilly ET (a Kaprico Eravelle daughter) and was secured by a Westmeath-based buyer.
Lot 26. Joining him at the €7,500 mark was his stablemate ERNEVALLEY ARCHIE ET. Placing third in his class, this Haltcliffe Vermount grandson has a predicted calving ease of 2.4%. He was snapped up by a customer from Mayo.
Lot 4. RUTLAND VITALISE ET, commanded €7,100 for breeder Noel Ruttledge completing a fantastic sale for the Ballina herd. A half-brother to the popular AI sire Rutland Reuben, this double F94L son of Hirohito is out of the proven breeder Rutland Jess. Continuing the day’s strong demand from the West, he was knocked down to a buyer in County Galway.
Lot 13. CURRANE VIAGRA, realized €7,100 for Michael McKeown of Castlebar, Co. Mayo. A second-prize winner in the show, this October 2024 son of Jurancon has Plumtree Fantastic and Emerson featuring in his dam’s lineage. This impressive young bull is now heading to a new home in County Offaly.
Lot 41. BRACKAN AERO, realized €7,100 for breeder Padraig Gormley of Carrigallen, Co. Leitrim. A third-prize winner in the show and a double F94L carrier, the 14-month-old son of Knock Msport is out of the Plumtree Deus daughter Esker-Hill Jacintha ET. Continuing the day’s strong cross-county trade, this stylish young bull was knocked down to a buyer from County Mayo.
Lot 38. BROOKLAND ALFORD, realized €7,000 for breeders John and Tom Hickey, Thurles. A double F94L son of the former Premier Champion Aughalion Prince ET and the homebred Elite Ice Cream dam, Brookland Mandy. This stylish young bull won his show class and is heading to a new home in county Carlow.
Eight Bulls Secure Prices in the €6,000’s
Lot 18. LIVERPOOL VANTASTIC, commanded €6,900 for breeder Kevin Graham of Boyle, Co. Roscommon. Vantastic has Knock Msport, Mereside Godolphin and Haltcliffe Dancer in his sire stack. He is a double F94L carrier and boasts top 1% rankings for Terminal Index, Carcass Weight, and Conformation. The November 2024-born bull is now bound for The Kingdom county.
Lot 17. CURRANE VITAS, realized €6,800 for Michael McKeown, Castlebar. Vitas’ sire stack includes Plumtree Fantastic, Emerson, and Sarkley Pepsi. This F94L and Q204X carrier was a fourth-prize winner in the pre-sale show. This county Mayo-bred bull was purchased by a farmer from County Monaghan.
Lot 39. COOLEBAWN ALAN, commanded €6,500 for Jason Beirne of Mohill, Co. Leitrim. A second-prize winner and a double F94L carrier. February 2025 born Alan is son of Shannon Stan and Coolebawn Kelly. He heads to a new home in county Monaghan.
Lot 36. FOYLE VIEW APOLO, commanded €6,400 for breeder Charles Duddy, Lifford, Co. Donegal. A fourth-prize winner and a carrier of the F94L and NT821 genes. Apolo is a Norman Ely son with Claddagh McCabe and On-Dit in his pedigree. Born in January 2025, this young bull was snapped up by a Cork-based farmer.
Lot 5. Nineteen month old CAVELANDS VIP, commanded €6,300 for breeder Paul Sykes, Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo. This powerful bull has an entirely French sire stack including Nebbiolo, Hamac, and Neuf. VIP stood second in his show class, he is a double F94L carrier. He was purchased by a Mayo-based bidder.
Lot 44. The hammer fell at €6,200 for the youngest bull in the catalogue, BRACKAN ABRACADABRA ET. Sired by the renowned show-calf producer Trueman Idol, this embryo-born bull is out of the Sympa daughter Esker-Hill Karen ET. Bred in Carrigallen by Padraig Gormley. Abracadabra carries the F94L and Q204X gene mix. He heads to a new home in County Laois.
Lot 2. TEMPLEQUAIN VALENTINO, commanded €6,000 for breeder Brendan O’Shea of Rathdowney, Co. Laois. The oldest bull presented at the sale, this Whiskey Infinity son placed third in his class. He is out of the Ampertaine Gigolo dam Templequain Megan and carries two copies of the F94L gene. He was knocked down to a Galway-based buyer.
Lot 15. MUFF VINCENZO, commanded €6,000 for breeder Patrick Carolan of Kingscourt, Co. Cavan. Sired by Fuschia, his dam Muff Tonia is a daughter of Wood Road Philip. Seventeen month old Vincenzo is a double F94L carrier. He was the pick of a farmer from County Tipperary.
Other bull prices
| # | Selling price | Bull name | Sire | Exhibitor | Show placing |
| Lot 32 | €5800 | BALLYBROWN ALAXANDER ET | Ampertaine Foreman | Bobby O’Connell | Second place |
| Lot 8 | €5700 | MAYTHORN VICTORY | Tomschoice Onslow | Olive McConnon | |
| Lot 12 | €5700 | SHANNON VAGABOND | Shannon Stan | Sarah McElligott | |
| Lot 35 | €5250 | GRANGEFORD AXEL ET | Huntershall Seth | Gary Morrissey | |
| Lot 30 | €5200 | RATHOONAGH ANTONIO | Claddagh Mccabe (Et) | Noel Maughan | Fourth place |
| Lot 33 | €5000 | BROOKLAND ALEXANDER | Aughalion Prince Et | John Hickey | Third place |
| Lot 43 | €4800 | GRANGEFORD ANDREA THE GIANT | Huntershall Seth | Gary Morrissey | |
| Lot 37 | €4500 | GREEN HILL ANTO | Brontemoor Salering | Damien Mcloughlin | |
| Lot 40 | €4500 | BROOKFIELD ARLO | Hector Gd | Alan Borton | |
| Lot 27 | €3500 | LISS ADAM | Grangeford Jojo Et | Martin Doherty |
Red Ladies in great demand
Lot 47. WOOD ROAD VALERIE ET, topped the heifer trade at €8,000 for Noel Fennessy, Castleconnell, Co. Limerick. A daughter of Ampertaine Foreman and the prolific Wood Road Jacinta ET, Valerie is a full sister to two of the most successful show animals of 2025, including the All-Ireland Male Champion Wood Road Vernon. A third-prize winner on the day and a carrier of the F94L and Q204X genes. Valerie was secured by a Galway-based buyer.
Lot 48. Securing the championship double the Bremore herd claimed the Overall Female Champion with the sensational BREMORE VICTORIA’S SECRET, knocked down for €7,500 to a Galway based purchaser. Victorias secret is a Knock Msport daughter, she is out of Trueman Tinaturner (a Telfers Munster dam). She boasts copies of both the F94L and NT821 genes.
Lot 50. The stylish Ampertaine Metric daughter BALLINASCRAW VENUS is heading to a new home in Tipperary for €7,000. Venus was bred by Stephen Lynch, Ballinalee, Co. Longford. Her dam Ballinascraw Miss Moneypenny has Haltcliffe Dancer and Ampertaine Foreman in her lineage. Venus is a double F94L gene carrier and was placed fourth in her show class.
Lot 51. Reserve Champion Female LIVERPOOL VIOLET commanded a price of €5,200 and heads to a new home in county Limerick. Violet has Fuschia, Plumtree Fantastic and Ronick Hawk in her sire stack. She is a F94L and Q204X gene carrier and was bred by Kevin Graham, Boyle, Co. Roscommon.
Lot 46. WOOD ROAD VIVIAN, a daughter of Ampertaine Jackpot found a new home in Galway for €4,300. Vivian is a double Q204X carrier. She was bred by Noel Fennessy.
