Roscrea Premier Sale 5th May 2008
A packed ringside at Roscrea Mart on the 5th May saw a top price of €6,000 with 16 lots making €3,000 and more. In all 50 bulls were sold representing a 75% clearance and an average price of €2,800. Both suckler and dairy farmers were among the bidders with a more serious trade for older bulls in the sale according to breed chief executive, Noel Gowen.

Topping the trade at €6,000 was the junior reserve male champion – Moloskey Cert, selected on the morning of the sale by judge and pedigree breeder, Derek Frew, Co. Antrim. This son of the popular Navarin was bred by Brendan Clancy, Mullagh, Co. Clare out of his home bred Ibis cow, Moloskey Texas. With docility in the top 1% of the breed, Cert caught the eye of fellow Mullagh commercial breeder, Michael Curry who duly bought him to run with his 40 strong suckler herd.

Moloskey Cert

The next best price went to William Smith, Oldcastle, Co. Meath for his 19 month old bull 5 star bull – Milbrook B-661 sired by Ronick Hawk. Out of a Mas du Clo cow, this bull had earlier taken the reserve senior male championship and was followed all the way into the ring by Gerard Waters, Grange, Co. Sligo, who bought him for €4,600.

Milbrook B-661

Third in the price rankings at €4,400 was Carrickmore Crusader from the herd of John Connell, Oldcastle, Co. Meath. This 16 month old bull by Nenuphar out of a Geant cow was had graced the show circuit last summer taking many first prizes including the index award at the National Limousin show. With 5 stars for suckler beef value, Crusader was bought by Michael Hyde, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway to run with his ¾ bred Limousin cows. The Hyde name was active again ringside when Anthony later purchased the senior male champion – Pelletstown Brandy (by Mas du Clo) for €3,800.

Carrickmore Crusader

Two bulls sold to €4,000. First was the Tartar B son, Elite Banker from the herd of Bernadette Tynan, Mountrath, Co. Laois. This 17 month old bull was again in the top 20% of the breed for suckler beef value and was sold to Seamus Greally.
Ray Carolan, Cavan Town, Co. Cavan also made €4,000 with his first prize winning bull – Carwin Clicker. This April 2007 born son of stock bull, Roundhill Saturn, held 5 stars for Suckler Beef Value and muscle index in the top 1%, and was sold to Robin Talbot, Co. Laois. This indeed was a great weekend for Ray as only the night before the sale he received the National Hall of Fame award for his contribution to the Limousin breed from Athlone Agricultural Show.

Carwin Clicker

Other leading prices;
€3,800 to Stanley & Mark Richardson for their junior male champion by Pacha 19
€3,300 to Tim Corridan for his 24 month son of Nelson
€3,300 to Bernadette Tynan for 1st prize winning son of Tartar B
€3,100 to Pat Breun for his 19 month son of Cloughhead Lord

Heifers
The small catalogue of heifers attracted interest from Northern Ireland with 7 in total sold across the border. Topping the female section was Liss Allie, a daughter of Shire Milton and out of French bred cow, Rosace. Bred by Martin Doherty, Lifford Co. Donegal, she was bought by Co. Offaly breeder, John Kenny for €3,400.

Liss Allie

Next best was Cloneygowan Bunny, by Lino and out of a Jeansonnet cow, who was sold by Gareth Behan, Ballyfin, Co. Laois to Michael Crowley.
The female champion on the day was Dungooley Becky (by Ronick Iceman) but went unsold through the ring. Heifer prices averaged €2,290 with a 62% clearance rate.