Pictured above: Kevin and Michael Graham with their bull, Liverpool Salah. Salah won first in his class before being tapped out as Junior Male Champion. He sold for the top price of €10,000.
It was another day to remember for the Irish Limousin Cattle Society in Roscrea Mart on bank holiday Monday, May 1st. The society’s second premier show and sale of 2023 was held at the Tipperary-based venue, where Limousin breeders and enthusiasts gathered to watch Llyr Hughes judge the Senior Male, Junior Male and Female Championships.
Show judge Llyr Hughes in action on the day
The sale commenced after this and what a sale it was! It was the equivalent sale in 2022 that set new records for a society sale. However, these records were smashed on Monday last – with a blistering trade for both bulls and heifers witnessed.
It was lot number 26 – Liverpool Salah – who took home the top price of €10,000. Salah was bred by Co. Roscommon breeder, Kevin Graham.
While this was the standout top price, it was closely followed on numerous occasions – leading to an average sale price for the bulls of €5,480 – a new record for the Irish Limousin Society and an increase of €1,000 on the 2022 spring Roscrea premier.
Up from a clearance rate of 93% last spring, 97% of the bulls presented for sale found new homes on the day, with many purchasers – both ringside and online – battling it out it to secure the top-quality Limousin bulls on offer. This comes as no surprise with the top prices achieved by commercial Limousin bulls and heifers at marts across the country week in, week out.
The trend continued when the females entered the ring – with breeders bidding to secure new additions to their herds. This led to a top price of €6,400 for the Reserve Female Champion, Templequain Sally – bred by Thomas O’Shea from Co. Laois.
Reserve Female Champion Templequain Sally made €6,400
Some 82% of heifers found new homes on the day – selling to an average price of €4,035. This represents an increase of €800 on the equivalent sale in spring 2022.
Male show champions
Starting with the show champions, the Senior Male Championship was awarded to lot number 14, Carrefour Sambo. Bred by John Kenny, Sambo is a 18-month-old son of Ampertaine Majestic and a Ampertaine Foreman-bred dam. He carries a 5-star terminal index of €163 and a calving figure of 5.1% on beef cows; he made €9,400.
Carrefour Sambo sold for €9,400
The Reserve Senior Champion was bred by Co. Clare breeder James O’Grady, with his bull Meenross Scooby Doo. A son of Wilodge Cerberus and Meenross Prospect, Scooby Doo has a Terminal Index value of €149 and is 3% calving difficulty on beef cows; the hammer fell at €5,200.
Meenross Scooby Doo sold for €5,200 on the day
Taking the Reserve Junior Male Champion was lot number 38, Ballyline Tonga. Bred by Bertie Mannion from Co. Roscommon, Tonga is sired by Mereside Godolphin.
He impresses with 4-stars on the Replacement and 5-stars on the Terminal Index, while also carrying 5-stars for carcass and conformation; he is 3.8% for calving difficulty on beef cows. In the sale ring, he went under the hammer for €6,300. He was purchased by William and Michael Dorgan, Watergrasshill, Co Cork, to join their pedigree Limousin herd – Hollyview Limousin.
Ballyline Tonga was purchased for €6,300
Irish Limousin Society auctioneer George Candler had his work cut out on Monday, with flurries of bids coming his way from around the ring and online from the get go.
The second bull led into the ring – Rutland Silver – bred by Mayo man Noel Ruttledge sold for €8,700. Sired by Ampertaine Metric, Silver boasts 5-stars on both the Replacement and Terminal Index and for carcass and conformation; he is 3.5% calving difficulty on beef cows.
Rutland Silver made €8,700
Selling for €7,600 was Cranmore Supersonic – bred by Swinford native, Ray O’Hara. An Ampertaine Elgin son going back to a Sympa-bred dam, this bull is 3.8% calving difficulty on beef cows and carries an impressive set of indexes, including 5-stars for terminal, carcass weight and conformation.
Supersonic was one of three grandsons of Castleview Felicity that were sold to a combined price of €19,500. The other two grandsons included the Reserve Senior Champion Meenross Scooby Doo and Meenross Showman – who was second in his class.
Cranmore Supersonic sold for €7,600
Lot number 33, Meenross Showman was sold for €6,700. Bred by James O’Grady, this bull was sired by Ampertaine Elgin going back to a Ronick Hawk-bred dam.
Meenross Showman made €6,700
Hitting €6,000 was lot number 34, Ballyline Tom. Born in January 2022, Tom carries 5-stars on the Replacement and Terminal Index and 5-stars for carcass weight and conformation. He is sired by Loyal.
Ballyline Tom went under the hammer for €6,000
Lot 37, Faughill Tyson ET, was sold for €5,500. This bull, bred by Charlie Clancy, was born in January 2022 and carries 4-stars on the Replacement Index and 5-stars on the Terminal Index. He is sired by Sympa and out of a Nenuphar daughter.
Faughill Tyson ET made €5,500
The Co. Monaghan-based Treanor brothers achieved €5,400 for their bull, Clontown Snoppy. This bull is sired by Neuf and born in September 2021 and has 5-stars across the terminal, carcass weight and conformation indexes.
Clontown Snoppy was purchased for €5,400
Lot 42 – Ballyline Tango – owned by Bertie Mannion sold for €5,200. Tango was born in January 2022 and carries 5-stars on the Replacement Index and 5-stars on the Terminal Index. He is sired by Ampertaine Metric out of aKeltic Handsome-sired dam – Ballyline P 706.
Ballyline Tango sold for €5,200
Bull highlights:
- Clearance rate: 97%
- Average price: €5,480
- €10,000: Top-priced Bull
- 1 Bull €9,000-9,999
- 1 Bulls €8,000 -8,999
- 1 Bulls €7,000-7,999
- 3 Bulls €6,000-6,999
- 10 Bulls €5,000-5,999
- 10 Bulls €4,000-4,999
- 2 Bulls €3,000-3,999
Other bull prices on the day:
| Other Bull Prices |
| Price | Exhibitor | Animal | Sire | Dam |
| €5,800 | Philip Dunne | Liscarn Schumacher | Wilodge Cerberus | Grangeford Jezebelle ET |
| €5,500 | Michael Molloy | Mullary Star | Tomschoice Lexicon | Mullary Lightning |
| €5,400 | Gary Morrissey | Grangeford Samson Lee | Ampertaine Magnum | Graqngeford Lucky Lee |
| €5,000 | Bríd Cronin | Powerstown Sabastian | Tomschoice Lexicon | Brooklands Jezebel |
| €5,000 | Martin Killeen | Springvalley Speedy | Norman Inventor | Mount Scott Melanie |
| €5,000 | Anthony Donnelly | Donnelly Trex | Ronick Hawk | Sonnelly Libby ET |
| €4,800 | Bríd Cronin | Powerstown Thyssen | Loyal | Brooklands Nisha |
| €4,600 | Brendan Feeney | Bostonia Scatman ET | Ampertaine Elgin | Milburn Mygirl ET |
| €4,600 | James O’Grady | Meenross Sheldon | Ampertaine Commander | Eyrecourt Mella |
| €4,600 | Tony Harrnett | Clonbonny Trex | Gamin | Clonbonny Phoenix |
| €4,500 | Tony Harrnett | Clonbonny Showtime | Ionesco | Drumeel J-720 |
| €4,500 | Pearse McNamee | Kiltoal Supreme ET | Ampertaine Foreman | Millgate Jem |
| €4,300 | Tony Harrnett | Clonbonny Superstar | Ampertaine Commander | Castleview Harriet |
| €4,300 | Jimmy McHugh | Killmactransa Stansted | Objat | Harmonica |
| €4,300 | Bertie Mannion | Ballyline Tomboy | Ampertaine Metric | Ballyline P 714 |
| €4,200 | Martin McConnon | Maythorn Silver | Ampertaine Gustav | Maythorn Maggy |
| €3,500 | Pearse McNamee | Kiltoal Tommy | Ampertaine Elgin | Millgate Jem |
| €3,000 | Brendan Hogan | Oldtown Shadow | Claragh Neymar | Oldtown Jane |
Female show champions
Topping the trade in the heifer section was the Reserve Female Champion, Templequain Sally – a daughter of Haltcliffe Newton. She was bred by Co. Laois breeder, Thomas O’Shea and she went under the hammer for €6,400.
Templequain Sally sold for €6,400
The Female Championship was awarded to lot 60, Liscarn Tina, bred by Philip Dunne. Born in April 2022 and sired by Plumtree Fantastic, she was purchased for €4,400.
Liscarn Tina made €4,400
Roscommon breeder, Kevin Graham, was back in the ring with his heifer – Liverpool Stella. Born in February 2021, Stella is a daughter Ampertaine Magnum and Liverpool Melanie; she sold for €3,500.
Liverpool Stella sold for €3,500 on the day
Heifer highlights:
- Clearance rate: 82%
- Average price: €4,035
- €6,400: Top-priced Heifer
- 1 Heifer €6,000-6,999
- 2 Heifer €5,000-5,999
- 4 Heifer €4,000-4,999
- 5 Heifers €3,000-3,999
- 2 Heifers €2,000-2,999
Other heifer prices:
| Other Heifer Prices |
| Price | Exhibitor | Animal | Sire | Dam |
| €5,300 | Thomas O’Shea | Templequain Topaz | Bavardage | Templequain Natalie |
| €5,000 | Adrian McCabe | Claddagh Simba 2 | Claddagh McCabe ET | Milbrook Gema |
| €4,700 | Thomas O’Shea | Templequain Shakira | Fuschia | Templequain Jasmine |
| €4,600 | Patrick Beirne | Ohill Sunshine | Tomschoice Lexicon | Kiltorcan Jasmine |
| €4,200 | Michael Molloy | Mullary Taylor | Tomschoice Lexicon | Mullary Kerry |
| €3,600 | Thomas O’Shea | Templequain Sapphire | Ampertaine Majestic | Templequain Nadine |
| €3,200 | Patrick Logan | Creenagh Trouble | Loyal | Creenagh Page |
| €3,000 | Patrick Beirne | Ohill Sophie 2 | Tweeddale Lennox | Ohill Patience |
| €3,000 | Thomas O’Shea | Templequain Tia Maria | Telfers Munster | Templequain Lavender |
| €2,900 | Michael Molloy | Mullary Tia | Tomschoice Lexicon | Mullary Kerry |
| €2,700 | Joseph McGarry | Clonguish Sybil | Telfers Munster | Castleview Jewel |
Speaking after the sale, Pat Mulvehill, interim CEO of the Irish Limousin Cattle Society, said: “This was a very positive sale for Irish Limousin, with excellent prices achieved by both bulls and heifers. This sale illustrates the versatility and suitability of the Irish Limousin for suckler, beef and dairy-beef producers across the country.
“On behalf of the Irish Limousin Cattle Society, I would like to thank the team at Roscrea Mart for hosting our premier sale, and to everyone who helped organise the weekend – the staff at the ILCS, auctioneer, judge, stewards, council and breeders who presented an excellent yard of Limousin cattle.”
The society would like thank all under bidders and wish all successful purchasers the very best of luck with their new bulls and heifers. The next society sale will take place in Roscommon Mart on Saturday, May 20th.
Show results
| Senior Male Classes |
| Class 1: (Lots 1-8) | Exhibitor | Animal | Sire | Dam |
| 1st | Noel Ruttledge | Rutland Silver | Ampertaine Metric | Rutland Mandy |
| 2nd | Brendan Feeney | Bostonia Scatman ET | Ampertaine Elgin | Milburn Mygirl ET |
| 3rd | Stephen Treanor | Clontown Snoppy | Neuf | Claragh Minx |
| 4th | Tony Harrnett | Clonbonny Superstar | Ampertaine Commander | Castleview Harriet |
| Senior Male Classes |
| Class 2: (Lots 9-17) | Exhibitor | Animal | Sire | Dam |
| 1st | John Kenny | Carrefour Sambo | Ampertaine Majestic | Carrefour Lisa ET |
| 2nd | Martin McConnon | Maythorn Silver | Ampertaine Gustav | Maythorn Maggy |
| 3rd | Bríd Cronin | Powerstown Sabastian | Tomschoice Lexicon | Brooklands Jezebel |
| Senior Male Classes |
| Class 3: (Lots 18-25) | Exhibitor | Animal | Sire | Dam |
| 1st | James O’Grady | Meenross Scooby Doo | Wilodge Cerberus | Meenross Prospect |
| 2nd | Gary Morrissey | Grangeford Samson Lee | Ampertaine Magnum | Grangeford Lucky Lee |
| 3rd | Michael Molloy | Mullary Star | Tomschoice Lexicon | Mullary Lightning |
| Senior Male Championship |
| Exhibitor | Animal | Sire | Dam | |
| Champion | John Kenny | Carrefour Sambo | Ampertaine Majestic | Carrefour Lisa ET |
| Reserve Champion | James O’Grady | Meenross Scooby Doo | Wilodge Cerberus | Meenross Prospect |
| Junior Male Classes |
| Class 4: (Lots 26-35) | Exhibitor | Animal | Sire | Dam |
| 1st | Kevin Graham | Liverpool Salah | Plumtree Fantastic | Liverpool Nadia |
| 2nd | James O’Grady | Meeross Showman | Ampertaine Elgin | Meenross Mojo |
| 3rd | Bertie Mannion | Ballyline Tom | Ewdenvale Ivor | Ballyline P 715 |
| 4th | James O’Grady | Meenross Sheldon | Ampertaine Commanader | Eyrecourt Mella |
| Junior Male Classes |
| Class 5: (Lots 36-46) | Exhibitor | Animal | Sire | Dam |
| 1st | Bertie Mannion | Ballyline Tonga | Mereside Godolphin | Ballyline Karol |
| 2nd | Tony Hartnett | Clonbonny Trex | Gamin | Clonbonny Phoenix |
| 3rd | Pearse McNamee | Kiltoal Tommy | Ampertaine Elgin | Millgate Jem |
| 4th | Bertie Mannion | Ballyline Toyboy | Ampertaine Majestic | Ballyline P 714 |
| Junior Male Championship |
| Exhibitor | Animal | Sire | Dam | |
| Champion | Kevin Graham | Liverpool Salah | Plumtree Fantastic | Liverpool Nadia |
| Reserve Champion | Bertie Mannion | Ballyline Tonga | Mereside Godolphin | Ballyline Karol |
| Female Classes |
| Class 6: (Lots 47-49) | Exhibitor | Animal | Sire | Dam |
| 1st | Kevin Graham | Liverpool Stella | Ampertaine Magnum | Liverpool Melanie |
| 2nd | Adrian McCabe | Claddagh Simba 2 | Claddagh McCabe ET | Milbrook Gema |
| Female Classes |
| Class 7: (Lots 58-64) | Exhibitor | Animal | Sire | Dam |
| 1st | Thomas O’Shea | Templequain Sally | Hatcliffe Newton | Templequain Meredith |
| 2nd | Jimmy McHugh | Killmactransa Sybil ET | Nenuphar | Kilmactransa City |
| 3rd | Thomas O’Shea | Templequain Shakira | Fuschia | Templequain Jasmine |
| 4th | Patrick Beirne | Ohill Sunshine | Tomschoice Lexicon | Kiltorcan Jasmine |
| Female Classes |
| Class 8: (Lots 58-64) | Exhibitor | Animal | Sire | Dam |
| 1st | Philip Dunne | Liscarn Tina | Plumtree Fantastic | Haltcliffe Jacintha |
| 2nd | Joseph McGarry | Clonguish Thelma | Whinfellpark Lomu | Clonguish Niamh ET |
| 3rd | Thomas O’Shea | Templequain Topaz | Bavardage | Templequain Natalie |
| 4th | Patrick Logan | Creenagh Trouble | Loyal | Creenagh Page |
| Female Championship |
| Exhibitor | Animal | Sire | Dam | |
| Champion | Philip Dunne | Liscarn Tina | Plumtree Fantastic | Haltcliffe Jacintha |
| Reserve Champion | Thomas O’Shea | Templequain Sally | Hatcliffe Newton | Templequain Meredith |
