Pictured is Karol and John Connell with Carrickmore Schumacher – The Overall Limousin Reserve Champion, the Intermediate Male Champion and the Overall Male Champion at the Limousin Society’s 50th Anniversary Show.
Irish Genetics in the mix at record breaking BLCS Sale
Our UK counterparts recently held their annual February sale at Carlisle Mart on Valentine’s Day, and it proved to be a historic occasion. The event saw the sale record shattered – not just for the Limousin breed, but for all breeds across the board.
We would like to extend our warmest congratulations to all the breeders and organizers involved in this spectacular event.
The pre-sale show on Friday evening offered a magnificent display of top-tier cattle, judged by our very own Karol Connell of the renowned Carrickmore herd. Karol selected Goldies Volcano, bred by Bruce Goldie, as the Overall Champion. Born in April 2024, Volcano is a son of Goldies Juggler (Ampertaine Gigolo x Wilodge Tonka) out of Goldies Redlady, an Ampertaine Opportunity daughter. Carrying both the F94L and Q204X genes, he sparked intense ringside interest before finally being knocked down for 60,000gns. From the same stable came the Reserve Champion, Goldies Vista. A son of Burnbank Sergeant and out of the Ampertaine Opportunity daughter Goldies Raquel, Vista also carries single copies of the F94L and Q204X genes. Following a flurry of bids, he was sold for 55,000gns.
Many pedigree Limousin bloodlines in the UK have their roots in Irish breeding, and the catalogue featured a strong contingent of Irish-descended stock. Grahams Virgil, a son of Ampertaine Elgin and the outstanding donor cow Scotchtown Esther (owned by brothers Gerry and Martin Davis), claimed the Reserve Junior Championship. Virgil was later sold by Mr. and Mrs. R. and J. Graham for 35,000gns. His full brother, Grahams Vito, a double carrier of the Q204X gene, placed second in the same competitive class and maintained that momentum in the ring, selling for 28,000gns.
The prestigious Maraiscote herd of the Nimmo family has frequently sourced stock bulls at society sales, including recent acquisitions Morhan Peter (bred by Brian Moroney) and Sliabh Felim Mourinho (bred by Sean Ryan). Morhan Peter, a Plumtree Fantastic son, sired the first-prize winner Maraiscote Viking. A double F94L carrier, Viking realized a price of 19,000gns. Both Irish bulls appear in the lineage of Maraiscote Veren, an April 2024-born second-prize winner. Veren, carrying both the F94L and Q204X genes, sold for 14,000gns.
Wanthwaite Vision, a first-prize winning grandson of Derrygullinane Kingbull, reached a sale price of 18,000gns. Vision carries the F94L and NT821 genes; his grandsire, Kingbull, was bred by the Walsh family in County Mayo. Another Kingbull grandson from the Wanthwaite herd, Wanthwaite Veno, sold for 13,000gns. A double F94L carrier, Veno was a second-prize winner in the show.
Also hitting the 18,000gns mark was Loosebeare Vaccine, a grandson of Elite Forever Brill. Vaccine was selected by Karol as the Reserve Intermediate Champion and carries both the F94L and NT821 genes. His grandsire, Elite Forever Brill, was bred by Dan Tynan of Co. Laois.
Thorninghurst Volcano, a grandson of Lisbrin Karl, sold for 16,000gns. A first-prize winner in his class, his grandsire Lisbrin Karl was bred by Sean Tighe of County Mayo.
Congratulations
A special mention must go to Karol Connell (Carrickmore Herd) for his superb work in the center of the ring. Judging a record-breaking sale is a massive responsibility, and Karol’s selections in the show ring went on to claim record breaking prices in the sales ring.
Congratulations Karol and best wishes to all at the Carrickmore herd.
Bull Sale
Our 2026 season kicks off with the Annual Spring Premier Bull Show and Sale, taking place at Roscrea Mart on Monday, March 16th.
The catalogue will be released this week. This year we are continuing with of our Bull Upgrade Scheme, full details and criteria will be published alongside the catalogue.
