The Kenny family enjoyed a day to remember under a blazing sunshine at last Sunday’s Connolly’s Redmills All Ireland Suffolk Championships at Dundalk Show. Their shearling ewe was judge Jason Watson’s choice of Supreme Champion with a ewe lamb from the same flock claiming the Reserve Champion rosette.
The Supreme Champion was a powerful shearling ewe by Carony Candyman who is by Rhaeadr Rockshore. Her dam is a Ballynacanon ewe by Lakeview Fury. The Reserve Champion was awarded to a ewe lamb from Kenny’s out of the 75,000gns Cairnton Chaos and another Ballynacanon ewe by Claycrop Classy Boy.
Judge for the day was Jason Watson from the Bannview flock in Co. Antrim. Judging kicked off in ideal showing conditions with a large crowd present. Jason commenced his task with the first class of the day which was the Shearling Ram & Upwards category.
Taking first place was Martin O’Reilly of the Oreo flock with his stock ram Finnvale Bazooka. He is by Finnvale Am The Man and a ewe by Claycrop Cactus Jack and was purchased at the Premier Sale in 2023. In second place was Derek Baskin with Clyda Drambuie. He is sired by Ballinatone BT Buddy and his dam is a Clyda ewe by Kinbally Black Panther.
The Aged ewe class was won by A&P O’Keeffe with a tremendous ewe sired by Ballinatone BT Buddy and out of a dam by Castleisle Kilteskin Prince. This ewe is from the same line as 20,000gns Annakisha Bright Eye and Annakisha Champ. Susan O’Keeffe’s Clyda flock took 2nd place in this class.
The Shearling ewe class was won by Thomas Kenny with a ewe by Carony Candyman and she went on to claim the Female Championship prior to taking the Supreme Championship. Michael Hastings was placed second with a stylish gimmer by Limestone Double Diamond and a Crewelands dam.
In the Novice ram lamb class there was further success for Thomas Kenny, taking 1st and 2nd place with ET brothers out of Cairnton Chaos and a Ballynacanon ewe by Claycrop Classy Boy.
The Open Ram lamb class was a very strong class with Patrick O’Keeffe winning first place. This ram lamb is a double 5 star out of Ballynacanon Coldplay with his dam a Burnview ewe purchased at the Burnview dispersal and he went on to claim the Male Championship. Charlie Bourke was awarded second place in this class with a ram lamb by Limestone Double Diamond and an Oakbridge ewe by Solwaybank King Williams and this lamb was Reserve Male Champion.
The Novice Ewe lamb class saw a clean sweep by Thomas Kenny with 3 ET sisters in the top 3 places. Out of the same flush as the Novice ram lamb winner, they are by Cairnton Chaos and a Ballynacanon dam. The 1st placed ewe lamb in this class went on to win the Trimmed ewe lamb class and ultimately was awarded Reserve Overall Champion of the show.
Taking second place in the Trimmed ewe lamb class was Susan O’Keeffe with a lamb by Blackbrae Dropdead Gorgeous. Her dam was the 2025 All Ireland Champion by Ballinatone BT Buddy.
Susan O’Keeffe dominated the Untrimmed ewe lamb class taking first and second places. The winner of this class is by Limestone Dream Maker and a Blackbrae AB President dam who was Reserve Female Champion at the 2025 All Ireland Championships.
There were two Young Handlers classes this year with both keenly contested. First up was the Under 13 class which was won by Bobby Thompson from the Ballinatone flock. Thomas Molloy from the flock of the same name was in second place with his brother James taking the 3rd spot.
In the Under 18 class, it was Ben Lynch of Ernevalley who came out on top. In second place was Ben Whyte of Keenoge Suffolks with Gareth Wilson of Castleisle taking 3rd place.
The South of Ireland Suffolk Society would like to commend the committee of Dundalk Show on their hosting of a fantastic event. We would like to extend special thanks to our sponsor Connolly’s Redmills for their continued support of our Society. We wish to thank all who helped toward making the event the success it was and wish all members the best of luck in the remainder of the show and sales season.
