The South of Ireland Suffolk Society held a very succesful Premier Show & Sale last Wednesday July 22nd with both averages and clearances higher than the previous year on the back of solid demand from buyers around the country.
Trade reached a high of €15,000 for a ram lamb from the Ballyboe flock of Ronan McLaughlin based in Co. Donegal. This tremendous ram lamb by Cairness Eye Catcher was 1st in the Open Ram Lamb class and subsequently crowned Supreme Champion. He sold to Keith Johnston of the Rossbrook flock in Northern Ireland.
Next top price on the day was from Susan O’Keeffe’s Clyda flock with a powerful ram lamb selling for €6,500. This lamb was 1st in the Recorded Class and went on to take Reserve Champion of the show and goes to a new home in the renowned Ballynacanon flock of Denis Taylor based in Northern Ireland. Sire of this lamb is Blackbrae Dropdead Gorgeous and his dam was Supreme Champion at the 2025 All Ireland Championships.
The Ram Lamb sired by a South of Ireland Bred Ram was won by the Kilcurley Flock of Robbie Walker. This strong lamb was sired by Convoy Druid and a Kilcurley dam sired by Forkin’s Jota.
John Molloy’s Molloy Flock was delighted to be tapped out as the judges Champion in the Novice Class with his Castleisle Dancing Brave sired lamb out of a Carony ewe. This ram went on to be sold for €3000 privately.
The judge’s choice in the Gigot Class was a Ballynacannon Cold Play lamb out of a Burnview Ewe from the Blackwater Flock of Patrick O’Keeffe which sold fpr €1100.
The Western flock of Michael Hastings sold their pen leader for €4,500. This ram lamb is by Castleisle Dancing Brave who was the 2025 Premier Show Champion and he sold to Marie Jenning’s Ballygarris flock in Co. Mayo.
Mr. James Wallace from the Claycrop flock based in Scotland was judge for the day and he tapped Susan O’Keeffe’s stylish Clyda ewe lamb as his Female Champion. She went on to sell for €3,400 to Edward Buckley. Adding to the Clyda flock’s success in both show and sales rings was also achieving Reserve Female Champion with another ewe lamb who then sent on to sell for €2,200.
Back to the ram lambs and at €4,000 was another from the Clyda flock who was part of Susan’s 1st prize winning Pen of 3 who sold to Michael Tuohy from Co. Galway. This lamb is sired by the £11,000 Limestone Dream Maker and from one of the best lines in the flock.
Brian Doyle’s Kilmacoo flock sold their top lamb for €3,000 to John Oakman, Co. Westmeath. This substitute lamb was sired by Rhaeadr Rockshore, by a homebred Kilmacoo Ewe sired by Donbraid Assassin.
Next on the top prices list was a quality ram lamb from Richard Thompson’s Ballinatone flock, selling for €2,800 to Daniel Grady of Co. Roscommon. Following this was a real strong lamb from John & Ester Gahan’s Barronstown flock selling for €2,700 to Andrew Farrelly.
Young Handlers were out in force for the show and it was great to see so many enthusiastic young breeders try their hand in the ring.
Winners in the 14-18 Age group were 1st Paddy McMonagle, 2nd Tommy McMonagle & 3rd, Gareth Wilson.
Competition was fierce in the U13 age group with all competitors emerging as winners although it was Bobby Thompson of the Ballinatone Flock who claimed the red rosette from the judge.
The Committee of the South of Ireland Suffolk Sheep Society would like to thank John Doyle and his super staff for an exceptionally run sale, all our sponsors on the day and all the buyers and underbidders who made the sale so successful. We wish all the buyers every success with their purchases.
