At the recent Premier Show & Sale at Blessington, the Young Handlers classes were a great success and for those looking on, it was clear to see the boundless enthusiasm in the next generation of Suffolk breeders. Due to increased participation, there were two classes this year for Under 13’s and for those Aged 14-18.
The Society was delighted to accept a new trophy for each class kindly put forward by two members. Susan O’Keeffe of the Clyda flock contributed the trophy for the Aged 14-18 class and Shane Brady sponsored the trophy for the winner of the Under 13 class. The Society is thankful for their support and generosity.
Judge for proceedings was Mark Priestly of the Limestone flock who had the tough task of selecting his winners. Both classes saw great excitement with the next generation of breeders showcasing their talents in the showring.
U13 YOUNG HANDLERS GROUP
First class up was the Under 13 class which was won by Lara Taylor of Ardvarness. In second place was James Molloy of Molloy Suffolks with Tadhg Brady of Milldam coming 3rd.
In the Aged 14-18 Class, taking top honours was Paddy McMonagle of Aughnakeeragh. Daniel Grady was second with Isabella Taylor in 3rd place.
U18 YOUNG HANDLER GROUP
The Society actively encourages budding young Suffolk Breeders to get involved in the Society.
If you have any questions about becoming a young member, please contact the Society office on 083 0907 313 or email enquiries@irishsuffolksheep.org
Suffolks hit double high of €13,000 at Premier Show & Sale
Trade reached a top of €13,000 on two occasions at the South of Ireland Suffolk Society Premier Show & Sale which took place in Blessington Mart. First to reach that mark was John Doherty, Co. Donegal with a ram lamb by Duncan’s Cantona. He had taken Overall Reserve Champion in the previous day’s show and goes to Keith Johnston of the Rossbrook flock in Northern Ireland. This lamb comes from the one of the best breeding lines in the Malinhead flock, with his dam being a sister of Malinhead Canonball.
Open Ram Champion and Reserve Supreme Champion, Malinhead Del Boy, CFN 25 03732 – Sold for €13000
Next to reach €13,000 was a stylish ram lamb from Michael Hastings, Co. Mayo. This ram lamb is by Limestone Double Diamond and out of a ewe by Solwaybank Rock Solid. He finds a new home in County Antrim with Alastair Barkley’s Blackbrae flock.
Lot 92, Western Drago WNW 25 01273 Joint Top Price – €13000
Judge for the show on Friday was Mark Priestly of the renowned Limestone flock based in Co. Down who tapped a super ram lamb from Andrew Wilson’s Castleisle flock as his Supreme Champion. Sired by Malinhead Cannonball, this ram had no shortage of admirers and eventually was knocked down at €9,000 to a trio of buyers in Richard Thompson, John Molloy and Michael Hastings. This lamb’s dam is a Millpark ewe purchased at the Black Beauties 2023 for €2,600. This line goes back to Castleisle Kingsman, Blackadder and CR7.
Champion Ram sired by a SOI Bred Ram and Supreme Champion, Castleisle Dancing Brave DDX 25 01462 – Sold for €9000
Ben Lynch’s Ernevalley flock from Co. Cavan took 1st place in the Novice class at the first time of asking with a very strong ram lamb by Craigdoo Crusader and a Donbraid ewe. Being one of the fancied rams in the yard, he sold for €7,000 to Patrick McVerry for his Tullywinney flock based in Co. Armagh.
Champion Novice, Ernevalley Danger Man ICH 25 01277 – Sold for €7000
The Convoy flock of Alan Kilpatrick took home €6,500 for a very breedy ram by the £75,000 Cairnton Chaos and a dam by Ballynacanon Booty Hunter. This ram lamb came 2nd in the Open class and was purchased by Paul Stacey, Co. Carlow and S&S Gahan.
Lot 82, Reserve Open Champion, Convoy Django, PWW 25 00411, Sold for €6500
Andrew Wilson’s Castleisle flock sold a ram lamb for €3,000 to Philip Lynch, Kenneth Bailey and Trevor Geelan. This stylish lamb is by Ballygroogan Banker and a dam by Shannagh CR7. His dam is a full sister to the £6,000 Shannagh Bossman.
Top priced female in the sale was the 1st Prize Shearling ewe from Michael Hastings who ultimately was awarded Reserve Female Champion. Out of Limestone Bugatti, she stays in Mayo having sold for €2,400 to Michael & Marie Jennings. This ewe is a maternal sister to Western Drago who sold for €13,000.
Champion Shearling Ewe & Reserve Female Champion, Lot 7, WNW 24 01176 – sold for €2400
The Female Championship was awarded to Charlie Bourke’s ewe lamb by Limestone Double Diamond. She sold for €2,300 to Seamus Walsh.
Champion Ewe Lamb & Female Champion, Lot 29, Connview IAW 25 00707, Sold for €2300
First in the Group of 3 class was Arthur & Patrick O’Keeffe with a strong trio of ram lambs. The first of these lambs sold for €2,000 to Aidan Carney. He was sired by Limestone Springbok going back to a Cairness ewe.
Shearling rams met a good trade with the top price of €1,700 for Philip Lynch’s strong ram who came 1st in the Shearling Ram class. He was by Finnvale Billy the Kid and a Jalex ewe by Scrogton Snapchat.
The Young Handlers classes were full of enthusiasm and excitement as usual with the next generation of breeders showcasing their skills. First class up was the Under 13 class which was won by Lara Taylor of Ardvarness. In second place was James Molloy of Molloy Suffolks with Tadhg Brady of Milldam coming 3rd. The Society wishes to thank Shane Brady for putting up the new trophy for this class.
Young Handlers U13
In the Aged 14-18 Class, taking top honours was Paddy McMonagle of Aughnakeeragh. Daniel Grady was second with Isabella Taylor in 3rd place. We would like to thank Susan O’Keeffe for donating the new trophy for this class and we look forward to seeing it being keenly contested for in the years to come.
Young Handlers U16
The Society would like to thank all that helped in any way to make the Premier Show & Sale a success. We would like to thank our sponsors for their continued support, in particular, our main sponsor Mayo Healthcare.
The Connollys Redmills All Ireland Suffolk Championships took place at Teagasc, Athenry on Saturday June 21st 2025
Supreme Champion of Show, Shearling Ewe from Clyda Flock
As the sun delivered its glow over a packed June show ring, it was the tremendous Clyda gimmer from Susan O’Keeffe who judge, Lesley Liggett tapped as his Supreme Champion. A ram lamb from the Mullinvale flock of Darragh McMenamin took the Reserve Champion rosette.
The Supreme Champion continues her family tradition of success, being from the famous L30 line in the Clyda flock. She is sired by Ballinatone BT Buddy and out of a Castleisle Kilteskin Prince dam who is also maternal sister to Clyda President. This line breeds success having won 4 Female of the Year titles and Supreme Championships at the National Championships for the Clyda flock and 2 Supreme Championships at the Society’s Premier Show & Sale.
Darragh McMenamin’s ram lamb Mullinvale Dazzler came out on top in the open ram lamb class and ultimately was awarded Reserve Overall Champion. This powerful lamb is by the £40,000 Frongoy Flamboyant with his dam being a Glenroe ewe by Limestone Red Rum.
Reserve Champion of Show, Mullinvale Dazzler
Judging kicked off under a blazing sunshine with a large entry of just under 150 sheep entered into 9 classes in total. A large crowd was present as judge Lesley Liggett, Carony, commenced his task.
First up was the Shearling Ram and upwards class which was won by James O’Connell, Knockogan, with Finnvale Bugatti. A son of Salopian Pure Gold, he was purchased at Blessington 2023 for 2,000gns. P.J. McMonagle, Aughnakeeragh, took second place with his stock ram Ballynacannon Cut Above, sired by the 16,000gns Rempstone Rassie.
The Aged ewe class was dominated by the Clyda flock of Susan O’Keeffe, taking first and second places. In 1st place was a homebred ewe by the 10,000gns Blackbrae AB President and a powerful Cairness ewe. This ewe went on to be Reserve Female Champion. Her maternal sister was placed 2nd in the same class. This particular ewe is by Castleisle Kilteskin Prince and has had a stellar show career herself. She has won Female of the Year and Supreme Champion in 2022 and 2023. She is also dam of the £5,000 ram lamb sold at Ballymena 2024.
The Shearling ewe class saw a huge entry and was won by the outstanding Clyda gimmer who went on to become the Supreme Champion and Female of the Year. Taking second place honours in this class was Charlie Bourke, Connview. This ewe is by Claycrop Classy Boy and an Oakbridge ewe by Solwaybank King William.
The New Breeders class saw a large entry and is open to breeders who have been members of the Society for 3 years or less. Dominating this class was Charlie Bourke taking first and second place with lambs by Limestone Double Diamond and his Oakbridge ewe. Mayo Healthcare were kind sponsors of this class.
The Novice ram lamb class was won by Barney Carroll, Cregmore. This lamb is by Limestone Bugatti and a Kirriemuir ewe. A much admired lamb, he went through to the Open ram lamb class and took second place, ultimately claiming Reserve Male Champion behind Mullinvale Dazzler. Shane Brady’s Milldam flock took second place in this class with a strong ram by Finnvale Bazooka and a Milldam ewe.
Novice Champion and Reserve Male Champion – Cregmore Flock
In the Novice ewe lamb class, Charlie Bourke took 1st place with a stylish lamb by Limestone Double Diamond with her dam being an Oakbridge ewe by Solwaybank King William. Second place in this class was taken by the same flock with a sister of the 1st prize winner.
Novice Ewe Lamb Champion, Connview Flock
The Trimmed ewe lamb class was won by John A Doherty, Malinhead. This strong lamb is by Crewelands Dancing Brave and a Limestone Red Rum dam. She is a sister to Malinhead Canonball and the ewe lamb that was Reserve Champion at the 2023 Championships. In second place was Philip Lynch’s ewe lamb by Shannagh Bossman and a Ballinatone BT Buddy ewe.
Champion Trimmed Ewe Lamb, Malinhead Flock
The Untrimmed ewe lamb class was won by Charlie Bourke’s ewe lamb from the Novice class. In second place was Malinhead, with a ewe lamb by Duncan’s Cantona and a ewe by Crewelands Dancing Brave. Her dam is a sister to the 1st prize trimmed ewe lamb.
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 stable. James Molloy from the flock of the same name was in second place. Thomas Duffy of Kells was awarded 3rd place.
In the Under 16 class, it was Paddy McMonagle of Beltanyview who came out on top. In second place was Ben Whyte of Keenoge Suffolks with Daniel Grady of Demense Suffolks awarded 3rd place.
U13 Young HandlersU16 Young Handlers
The South of Ireland Suffolk Society would like to commend Teagasc on their hosting of a fantastic Sheep 2025 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.
Supreme Champion – Aged Ewe, Arthur O’Keeffe with Judge, Dennis Taylor & Handler, Patrick O’Keeffe
The South of Ireland Suffolk Sheep Society held their annual National Championships at Dundalk Show on Sunday 9th June. All classes were very well supported with a mix of established and new breeders presenting an excellent standard of stock. There was great interest in proceedings with a strong ringside crowd watching on including many breeders from Northern Ireland. The Society would like to thank Connolly Red Mills for their sponsorship of the show this year.
The show judge was Mr. Dennis Taylor of the renowned Ballynacannon Flock, based in Co. Antrim who tapped out a tremendous ewe from Arthur O’Keeffe’s Annakisha flock as Overall Champion. A 2022 born ewe, she also took 1st prize in the Aged Ewe class and is sired by Ballinatone BT Buddy and out of a homebred ewe by Strathbogie AK Magic. After taking the Suffolk Championship, this ewe then went forward and claimed the Interbreed Championship.
Taking Reserve Overall Champion was the 1st prize shearling ewe from Philip Lynch’s Glyde flock. A stylish ewe, she is by Ballinatone BT Buddy and a Castleisle ewe by Lakeview Armani.
Reserve Champion – Philip Lynch, Shearling Ewe
A young ram lamb by Ballinatone BT Buddy and a homebred ewe by Castleisle Kilteskin Prince, from the flock of Arthur O’Keeffe claimed the Male Championship. This lamb was 1st in the Open ram lamb class and it was the 2nd prizewinner from the same class that took Reserve Male Champion. From the Malinhead flock of John Doherty, Co. Donegal, this ram lamb is sired by Crewelands Dancing Brave and out of a ewe by Limestone Red Rum.
Male Champion – Arthur O’Keeffe, Ram Lamb
Taking first place in the Shearling Ram and upwards class was JA & AJ Lucas, Finnvale with their stock ram Claycrop MacAllister, a private purchase by the 48,000gns Limestone Marksman.
For the first time this year, there was a New Members class and this was a huge success with a large entry. Taking top honors here was Sean O’Gorman, Roselodge with a ram lamb by Limestone Commando. The lamb’s dam was purchased as Female Champion at the Premier Show & Sale at Blessington 2022. This ram lamb then went on to claim 1st prize in the Novice Ram lamb class.
A strong ewe lamb from Shane Brady’s Milldam flock took 1st prize in the Novice Ewe Lamb class. She is by Bessiebell Big Brother and a Shannagh ewe.
Arthur O’Keeffe’s ewe lamb claimed 1st prize in the Trimmed ewe lamb class. This lamb is sired by the 10,000gns Blackbrae AB President with her dam being the ewe who was Supreme Champion on the day.
The untrimmed ewe lamb class was won by the Malinhead flock of John Doherty. This lamb is by Crewelands Dancing Brave and is a full sister to the Reserve Male Champion on the day.
In the Young Handlers class it was great to see so much enthusiasm and congratulations to Ben Lynch for winning 1st prize. In second place was Ben Whyte with Tara Bailey taking 3rd prize.
Young Handlers with Judge, Dennis Taylor: 1st Ben Lynch, 2nd Ben Whyte, 3rd Tara Bailey
The Society would like to congratulate the organizers of Dundalk Show on a very well run event.
