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.
Open Ram Champion,, Male Champion & Supreme Champion, LOT 48 from Ronan McLoughlin’s Ballyboe Flock, shown by Caroline Whyte sold for €15,000 to Rossbrook Flock
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.
Champion, Recorded Class and Reserve Male & Supreme Champion from Susan O’Keeffe, sold for €6,500 to the Ballynacannon Flock.
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.
Lot 9, Champion ewe Lamb and Female Champion from Susan O’Keefe’s Clyda Flock, sold for €3400 to the Kilbarry Flock
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.
SHANNAGH & CASTLEISLE FLOCKS SCOOP THE 2026 SUFFOLK HALL OF FAME AWARD
Richard and Andrew Wilson of the Shannagh and Castleisle Suffolk flocks have been at the forefront of the Irish Suffolk breed for many years. The Shannagh flock established in 1966 celebrates its 60th year of pedigree breeding this year, originally established by their late father William whose eye for stock and general stockmanship has certainly passed on to the next generation. The Castleisle flock was established in 1989 and also features prominently in many of the breeds most successful bloodlines today. Many successes have followed throughout the years, in 1998 the 1st real notable achievement was selling “Shannagh Freeway” for £13,000gns at the prestigious Edinburgh Suffolk sale, in the years that followed “Shannagh Shergar sold for €10,200, “Shanngh Resolve” sold for €11,000. Whilst the flocks have won the South of Ireland premier sale 8 times, it has also won the Scottish premier sale in 2015 selling for £14,000gns. In 2019 the flocks achieved one of their best years in the sale rings selling lambs at the Scottish premier for £16,000, £20,000, and £21,000 and achieving the top average of £12,232 for 6 lambs. In 2022 the flocks achieved their best price to date selling the noted Castleisle Kingsman for £33,000 and in 2023 this lambs brother “Castleisle Black Adder” sold for the 2nd top price of £28,000 at the Scottish premier sale and females from the flocks have topped many sales selling up to £10,000gns Over the years not only have lifelong friends been made within the breed, we’ve also had the honour of judging many of the breeds most prestigious shows including Balmoral, the Highland show, the Great Yorkshire show, the National Championships both North and South, and the Uk and Ireland flock competitions. Andrew and Richard would like to thank the committee of the South of Ireland of the Suffolk Sheep Society for their nomination to receive the Hall of Fame award and their respective friends and families who have helped and supported them throughout the years.
The Suffolk Sheep Society South of Ireland were delighted to be a part of the Sheep 2023 Event held on Saturday June 17th in Gurteen Agricultural College. Suffolk Breeders came out in their droves to be a part of the National Suffolk Championships. The event was again sponsored by Connolly’s Redmills and we would like to express our sincere gratitude to them for their support.
While the weather was very inclement as breeders arrived with their stock, thankfully, the sun came out from the clouds and shone for the entire Suffolk judging.
Judge for the day was Mr. Martin Butler of the acclaimed Castlewood Flock, Ballymena and he was faced with some very difficult choices in each class.
Judging commenced with the Shearling Ram & upwards class with some very strong rams on display. It was Philip Lynch’s Clyda Awesome stock ram sired by Ballinatone BT Buddy who claimed the top spot with Susan O’Keefe claiming the reserve spot.
In the Aged Ewe class, Susan O’Keeffe dominated the field with her ewe which was sired by Castleisle Kilteskin Prince out of a Cairness ewe. This same female had taken the Champion Spot at the National Championshipsin 2022 and she caught the judge’s eye again this year, claiming the red rosette over a very smart ewe from John Molloy’s Glencolmcille Flock.
The Shearling Ewe Class was an exceptional class with almost 25 of the top breeding Shearlings in the country on show. Martin Butler had an extremely difficult task to whittle them down. In the final line-up however, it was Susan O’Keeffe who once again claimed the top spot with a very smart ewe once again, sired by Ballinatone BT Buddy. Reserve in this class remined in the family with Arthur O’Keeffe claiming the reserve spot.
The Novice Ewe lamb class was a stylish affair with the Doherty Brothers from Malinhead dominating a strong class. Emerging as Champion and reserve in the class were two full sisters sired by Crewelands Dancing Brave from a home bred Malinhead ewe.
These two sisters then went on to compete in the Open Ewe Lamb class where one claimed the red rosette and a very smart lamb from the Clyda Flock of Susan O’Keeffe claimed the reserve spot.
In the untrimmed Ewe Lamb Class, the filed was once again dominated by John and Martin Doherty whose very stylish lamb claimed the red rosette over Arthur O’Keeffe’s lamb.
The Novice Ram Class was dominated by Eamonn Duffy of the Kells flock who claimed first and second place with two very breedy ram lambs. The Champion, Kells Bacardi, was sired by Fongoy Rocket from a Hogillfoot ewe. Once again, these two top placed rams moved into the Open class to compete in a very strong class of powerful rams. In this instance, the judge tapped out Arthur O’Keeffe’s Blackbrae AB President sired lamb bred out of a home bred Annakisha Ewe as his class Champion, with Eamon Duffy’s Novice winner taking the reserve spot.
The Young Handler’s Class, sponsored by Animax Vet is always a class enjoyed by everyone. This year it was Lorna Bailey of the Lismurtagh Flock who took the top honours. The judge was very impressed with her handling skills. The runners up in the class were Tara Bailey, Conor Bailey and Thomas Duffy. Well done to all the Young Handlers on a job well done!
When it came to the Championships, the judge’s deliberations were long and hard, such was the quality of stock on show in front of him.
The Female Championship was eventually decided with Susan O’Keeffe’s aged ewe claiming the top spot with Martin and John Doherty’s Ewe Lamb, who had previously won the Novice and the Open Ewe lamb classes claiming reserve.
The Male Championship was another difficult choice for the judge but it was Philip Lynch’s Shearling ram, Clyda Awesome who was tapped out with Arthur O’Keeffe’s ram lamb, a close second.
In the final line-up, it was Susan O’Keeffe’s Aged Ewe who continued her winning streak from 2022 by claiming the top spot of the Championship taking Supreme Champion of the show.
The Doherty’s Ewe lamb was a very worthy recipient of the Reserve Champion spot.
The Society would like to thank our two very generous sponsors of the event – Connollys Redmills and Animax Vet (Young Handler Class).
The Suffolk Sheep Society South of Ireland would like to commend all our breeders who attended the Championships. The quality of stock on display was second to none and is testament to the time and effort undertaken by breeders to continue improving bloodlines within the breed.
We would also like to express our gratitude to the Sheep 2023 Committee on an extremely well run and interesting event. It was a credit to all involved.
Champion Ewe Lamb and reserve Supreme Champion, Martin & JJ Doherty, MalinheadMale Champion – Philip Lynch, Shearling RamShearling Ewe Champion – Susan O’Keeffe, ClydaCHampion Ram Lamb – Arthur OKeeffe, AnnakishaNovice Champion Ram Lamb – Eamon Duffy, KellsYoung Handler Class. Winner – Lorna Bailey, Lismurtagh. Class sponsored by Animax Vet
There are many places an Irish Suffolk sheep breeder might expect to be in mid December, but Mexico would not be one of them! After receiving an official invitation from the Mexican National Sheep Breeders Association to judge the Suffolk Breed in their National Show in Queretaro (which is a city about 3 hours north of Mexico City with a population of just over 1 million), I was very much looking forward to seeing the best of Mexican Suffolk Sheep Breeding on show.
Lining up prior to the showWinners Pennants & Prizes
‘Feria Internacional Grandera de Queretaro’, as a show is similar in style to the likes of the Ploughing or Balmoral Show but it runs for three weeks, encompassing stock judging, rodeos, equine displays, police and army displays, a circus, concerts, retail halls, food halls and shows to mention but a few of the things which happen over its duration.
On arrival at the judging venue on Thursday December 8th (after 25 hours of travel) there was a very warm welcome from the organisers of the Ovine event – Jose Luis Cervantes (President of the Sheep Breeders Association and Juan Jose Salas, Ovine event Chairman.
L-R Jose Luis Cervantes, Carlos Alcocer, General Director International Livestock fair, Juan Jose Salas
With little knowledge of what to expect in terms of quality, and only some reports of more ‘leggy, lengthy sheep with smaller heads and overall, a different type of Suffolk’, I was very much looking forward to judging this extremely prestigious show. The actual grounds were huge with football pitch size marquees. As judge however, I was not allowed to enter the sheep area where all the breeds were penned, prior to judging taking place.
Several breeds were judged prior to the Suffolks, including Charollais, Texels, Dorpers as well as eight other breeds, many judged by other international judges from Europe and South Africa. The Suffolk judging took place on the Saturday. All animals entered to the show were brought to the judging ring and tethered just outside the ring to await their turn to be shown. It was with great delight that I saw a large number of quality Suffolks, who would have made the cut for any of the show circuits in Ireland.
Judging in progressFinal selectionChampion & Reserve Ewe Lamb Class 9-12 monthsFemale Champion & ReserveFemale Champion – Shearling Ewe sired by Solwaybank Major
Warm weather and good grass obviously agree with the sheep as they displayed super carcasses, great bone and generally, very good toplines. There were a small number of teeth problems but these were in the minority, but conformation was generally very good., in particular in several young lambs who were judged in groups dependent on age.
A smashing young Ram Lamb with great style, carcass and bone, from the flock of Jose Luis Cervantes took the Male Champion and the same flock produced the Female Champio nwith a superb Shearling who turned out to be a daughter of Solwaybank Major and early in lamb to a South of Ireland, Irish Suffolk Ram, Malinhead Geras.
A lineup for some of the Ram judging Champion and Reserve RamChampion Ram
Unlike the system here in Ireland and the UK, the only information you receive about the animals being judged is their tag number, Flock and age. No breeding information is given to the judges prior to judging. The other difference is that there is not Supreme Champion judging – there are only Male & Female Champions. Flock genetics are also judged in Classes with groups of three & four animals (male or female) from the one family.
Family of Three, Champions
The Super Female Champion went on to be judged in the Interbreed Competition on the Sunday against the Female Champions of all the other breeds. This competition was judged by a panel of five judges from France, Ireland, South Africa and Mexico who each had to vote to pick their Champion. To the delight of the large crowd in attendance (and myself I might add) the judges unanimously picked the Suffolk as their Interbreed Champion of the Show.
Part of the line-up for the Interbreed JudgingSuffolk Female ChampionSuffolk Champion wins Female Interbreed
Once the Show judging was complete, the Mexican Sheep Breeders Association hosted a banquet in the transformed judging marquee for about 500 sheep breeders present at the event with a presentation of prizes and speeches after the meal.
Dinner hosted by National Sheep Breeders Association of MexicoPresentation to Garth GrahamChampion Suffolk Breeder;s Trophy
I would very much like to congratulate the organisers of this fantastic event which was extremely well organised and ran without a hitch and to thank them for the wonderful opportunity to judge at the Show. As a fellow Suffolk Breeder it was a tremendous experience to attend such a prestigious event and to see the excellent quality of the sheep being produced in Mexico. It was also wonderful to see Irish & UK genetics breeding so well within Mexican Suffolk Flocks. I felt that there is a real understanding by the breeders in Mexico of Suffolk genetics and the importance of maintaining and improving their bloodlines for the development of the breed. The Suffolk breed in Mexico has a very bright future indeed with such forward thinking and insightful breeders developing the National Suffolk Flock.
Thankyou to all concerned for the fantastic experience and the opportunity!
The Suffolk Sheep Society recently held its AGM in Tullamore.
The meeting was Chaired by outgoing Chairman Mr Dan O’Mahony who welcomed all the attendees. Mr O’Mahony thanked the Committee for all their hard work during the year. He re-iterated that much had been achieved in 2022 and he mentioned the fact that the Society is attracting many new breeders. He also stated that in the post Brexit era, the future is looking bright for the Society and the Suffolk breed and that there are many opportunities to be availed of by breeders.
The committee were delighted to have Mr Robin McIlrath, outgoing CEO of the Suffolk Sheep Society UK, along with his wife Roberta in attendance at the meeting. A presentation was made by the Society to Robin as a token of appreciation for his all his hard work and guidance in the South of Ireland throughout his tenure as CEO and the Committee and attendees wished him well in his retirement.
Robin McIlrath (outgoing CEO Suffolk Sheep Society UK), Roberta McIlrath and Dan O’Mahony (Chairman Suffolk Sheep Society – South of Ireland)
Mr O’Mahony thanked attendees for coming and wished everyone well with their 2023 lambing season.
At the end of the meeting the presentation of prizes to the winners at the Premier Show took place. Winners of each class detailed below:
SHEARLING EWE
ANDY SMITH
EWE LAMB
COLIN WATCHORN
SHEARLING RAM
JOHN HANLY
RAM SIRED BY SOI BRED RAM
PATRICK O’KEEFFE
RECORDED CLASS
COLIN WATCHORN
NOVICE RAM LAMB
DOHERTY BROS
OPEN RAM LAMB
AJ & JA LUCAS
GIGOT RAM LAMB
SUSAN O’KEEFFE
GROUP OF THREE RAM LAMBS
AJ & JA LUCAS
FEMALE CHAMPION
COLIN WATCHORN
MALE CHAMPION
AJ & JA LUCAS (OPEN RAM WINNER)
SUPREME CHAMPION
AJ & JA LUCAS
SHEPHERD OF THE SHOW
AJ & JA LUCAS
SIRE OF THE YEAR
SEAMUS BROWNE -LIMESTONE GOLD RUSH
HOMEBRED SIRE OF THE YEAR
ANDREW WILSON/EAMONN DUFFY KELLS T-REX
Susan O’Keeffe – Winner Gigot Ram LambAndrew Lucas receiving the PA Murphy trophy for Shepherd of the ShowAndrew Lucas with his prizesDan O’Mahony, Richard Thompson (on behalf of the Doherty Bros), Paddy Carolan (on behalf of Andy Smith), Susan O’Keefe, Andrew Lucas, Mary Gahan (Honorary Secretary) PJ McMonagle (on behalf of Seamus Browne)
