The 2011 Male and Supreme Hereford Champion at the National Hereford show held at Tullamore Firecracker was also nominated for the award in 2008 the show year which culminated in his winning the Supreme Hereford Championship at the International Beef Expo at Kilkenny.

Purchased by Sean McKiernan, Corlismore House, Corlismore PO, Co Cavan as a ten month old calf from breeders Tom & Anselm Fitzgerald, Glebe House, Mount Temple, Moate, Co Westmeath he has been impressive throughout his career and his progeny now feature in the championship enclosure also. This year in addition to the Supreme Championship at the National Hereford Show Firecracker was also Champion at Arva and Strokestown. 

At Trim he was Reserve Supreme Champion to his daughter Corlismore Poll 1 Sydney 574 (Pic 2) who was a first prizewinner at Virginia, Strokestown and Tullamore where she was also National Reserve Female Champion. Following on her win as Supreme Champion at Royal Meath (Trim) in September she was awarded the Interbreed Championship.

 

Another daughter Corlismore Ursula 599 (Pic 3)was a first prizewinner at the National Hereford show and later awarded the National Heifer Calf Championship.

 

A further daughter Corlismore Poll 1 Sarah a second prizewinner at the National was a first prizewinner at Strokestown. Both these heifers were purchased at €4,000 each by Co Cork breeder Michael & Brian O’Keeffe, Gurteragh, Newmarket. A son Corlismore Poll 1 Statesman was Reserve Stanley McAdam Bull of the year at Royal Meath (Trim).

His sire is the five star Churchill Storm whose semen was imported from Australia via the Hereford Society's Breed Improvement Scheme. His progeny are amongst the most successful in both pedigree and commercial herds.

For any sire to express his full potential serious consideration needs to be given to the females he is mated to. In this instance the T& AFitzgerald bred Grianan Dominique from the very successful Orange family developed from the purchase of the Orange female line at RS Kenny's "Drumakeenan" herd dispersal is an excellent female from a prolific line. As a calf she was shown very successfully winning three Breed Championships, the National Heifer Calf Championship and eight first prizes. She was also shown as a two year old with Firecracker by her side winning 1^st prize Junior Cow and Reserve Overall Champion at the National show, all this while carrying twin heifers that are now an established part of the Grianan herd. She has since proved to be a very productive donor cow and is easily the most impressive cow in the herd.

The top price of €2,500 was reached for Champion Dareens Gus exhibited by Jim Fitzpatrick of J & J Fitzpatrick, Templemore. A well grown bull by stock bull Ardmulchan Elvis out of a Rathcor Ranger dam Dareens Upstart he is a four star bull for suckler beef value and a five star for weanling export. The purchaser was local man John Walker, Mainister, Croom.

Offaly breeder Joe O’Connor exhibited first prizewinner Boveen Jack by GSQ OUT OF Boveen Stately 13^th by his stockbull Kilsunny Abraham. His purchaser is Seamus Drohan, Rathcormack, Co Waterford for €2,500.

 

There was a very large crowd in attendance at Tullamore for the Hereford Society’s Premier Autumn Sale on Saturday where the top price bull sold at 4,400 and the top price heifer at 4,200 surpassing expectations.

 

 

The days champion Udel 1 BC Dan Dare from the herd of David and Daithi Carroll, Coole, Campile, Co. Wexford is a five star bull in the top 94% of the breed for weanling export, suckler beef value and daughter milk. By Australia Sire Kidman Blue Chip the dam Udel 1 R51 Lovely Ursula is by Doonbiddie Hustler the successful sire used at Udel over the last number of years. The purchaser at 3,800 is Ms. T. Lynch, Carrrickmacross, Co. Monaghan.

 

The Balleen Herd of Tom Brennan, Freshford, Co. Kilkenny sold the top price bull Balleen Maker at 4,400 to Hereford Breeder Mr. John Conlon, Markethill, Co. Armagh. Maker is a five star bull in the top 99% of the bred for suckler beef value, weanling export, beef carcass and calving. He is sired by proven herd sire Gageboro Eugenic a son of Churchill Storm V583 the dam Balleen Maeve 3^rd is by Balleen Tribute.

 

 

A further son of Gageboro Eugenic again from the Balleen herd of Tom Brennan, Balleen Harvey out of Balleen Emma 3^rd by Balleen Breezer sold at 4,000 to Hereford breeders and dairy farmers Bobby an Robert Powell, Blean, Toomevara, Co. Tipperary. Harvey is a five star bull in the top 97% of the breed for suckler beef value, weanling export, beef carcass, daughter fertility and calving.Eugenic was also the sire of the Champion at Kilkenny March, 2011, Roscommon October 2010 and Reserve Champion at Kilmallock in October 2010.

 

 

Kye Storm 554 bred and exhibited by Padraig McGrath, Cloonshannagh, Elphin and sired by Steil Gerard and out of Kye Robin 1^st ET by Durobin 603 87J was purchased by Daniel Sweeney, Carrygawley, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal for 3,500. He is a five star bull in the top 89% of the breed for SBV, weanling export and daughter fertility on the ICBF evaluation system. Padraig McGrath's Kye Rodge 553 by Shalon Rodge was Reserve Champion bull but failed to reach his reserve and remained unsold.   

 

F. & R.D.F. Abbott, Drumcrow, Killeshandra exhibited Woodview Idel by Cloonbracken Cicero and out of Woodview Doris by Woodview Sergeant. A five star bull in the top 96% of the breed for suckler beef value, weanling export, beef carcass and daughter fertility he sold at 2,950 to Tony O’Brien, O’Callaghans Mills, Co. Clare.

 

Paul Larkin of Dunderry, Navan purchased Knockmountagh Tarzan sired by National Hereford Supreme Champion 2011 Grianan Firecracker at 2,800. Tarzan is out of Yarram Pompeii V055 daughter Knockmountagh Aileen and is a five star bull for SBV and beef carcass and is bred by Eamon & John McKiernan, Monasterboice, Co. Louth.

 

Co. Cavan breeder Patsy Smith, Tullinchin, Mountain Lodge sold his Corlismore Pompeii son Borin Bob a five star bull for SBV and beef carcass at 2,600 to David McNeece, Newtown Hamilton, Newry, Co. Down. The dam is a Churchill Storm daughter Borin Sophie. 

 

Grianan King Lear ET just three weeks after his first birthday sold at 2,500 to Diary farmer Joe Byrne, Clonbonny, Athlone. Bred and exhibited by Tom & Anslem Fitzgerald, Mount Temple, Moate King Lear is sired by Bowmont Storm A584 and out of Grianan Dominique dam of this year’s National Supreme Champion Grianan Firecracker. He is in the top 92% of the breed for Beef carcass weanling export and docility.

 

In the female section the Fitzgerald father and son team from Mount Temple were to the fore again averaging 3,450 for two heifers. The top price heifer Grianan Vera J557 by Bowmont Storm A584 just 18 months old and unserved sold at 4,200 to Michael and Brian O’Keeffe, Gurteragh, Newmarket, Co. Cork and the Champion Grianan Orange J544 by Rathcor Ranger out of Grianan Orange F407 by Border General V85. The purchasers at 2,700 were husband and wife Adrian and Sandra Irvine, Derryallen Road, Trillick, Co. Tyrone the judges for the event. 

 

 

Ardmulchan Clover 452 exhibited by Co. Meath breeder Philip Smyth, Navan also went North at 3,000 to Gordon Buchanan, Lisbellew, Co. Fermanagh. Out of Ardmulchan Clover 32^nd by Westwood Uplifter she was a first prize-winner. 

 

Pauline Casey, Lisnalurg, Sligo exhibited Lisnalurg May Bea by Trillick Best and incalf to Bowmont Storm A584 out of Lisnalurg Daisy Bea by Breaney Sam. She was purchased at 2,500 by Paul Flynn, Carraventra, Clones who is currently establishing a new herd.

 

Dunsinane Jenny by Glaslough Esquire exhibited by Glenn Jacob, Dunsinane, Enniscorthy also sold at 2,500. Her dam Dunsinane Christie 2nd is by Breaney Sam.

 

Glaslough Janet from S & N Heatrick Glaslough, Co. Monaghan was purchased at 2,450 by Henry Parr, Tourtane House, Clough, Castlecomer. She is out of Glaslough Gail and sired by herd sire Rathregan Napoleon.

 

 

 

Bulls averaged 2,667 with a range of 1,800 to 4,400 and a 68% clearance while heifers averaged 2,307, range 1,500 to 4,200 and a 72% clearance.

Draw winner Ray Dempsey with South Leinster Chairman Glenn Jacob

 

1^st Hereford Cross Heifer: Ray Dempsey, Relin, Kernanstown, Carlow

2^nd €100 : Marie McFadden, Gibbstown, Navan, Co Meath

3^rd €100 : Johnny O’Reilly, Tawnycoolawee, Castlebar, Co Mayo

4^th €50 : Michael Murphy, Sherkin Island, Skibbereen, Co Cork

5^th Hereford Prime Jacket: Robert Hayes, Ocurry, Kilkea, Co Clare

The Hereford Cross heifer was supplied by John & Jim Fitzpatrick, Dareens, Clonmore, Templemore and was one of three commercial heifers sired by Dareens Andy their five star stock bull by Yarram Pompeii V055 suitable for slaughter through the Hereford Prime premium scheme or as a suckler dam. The winner Ray Dempsey says he will keep her as a suckler dam.

The proceeds of the Draw run by the South Leinster Branch of the Hereford Society will provide €720 in funding to the Children’s Hospital Temple Street, Dublin.

 

The six regional finalists competing were Henry Allen, Ballaghmore, Borris-in-Ossory, Laois representing South Leinster qualified at Pilltown Show, Colin Anderson, Corran, Derrylane, Cavan representing Cavan/Monaghan qualified at Virginia Show, Ross Bateman, Slieveroe, Riverstick, Cork representing West Cork qualified at Bantry Show, Susan Dudley, Kilsunny, Dovea, Tipperary representing Munster qualified at Nenagh Show, Ciaran Farrell, Trillick-a-Temple, Longford representing North Leinster qualified at Longford Show and Marie Mullooly, Lavally, Strokestown, Roscommon representing Connaught qualified at Strokestown Show.

 

 

 

 

All the animals shown by the contestants were selected by a draw from the young Bulls exhibited on the Hereford Stand at the N.P.C. Following preparation and grooming of their charges they paraded the animals before the judges.

 

Competition was keen and intense as the top prize a trip to Canada for the World Hereford Conference in July 2012 was the top prize. The trip includes a visit to the world famous Calgary Stampede which celebrates its 100^th Anniversary.

 

The judges well know Angus breeder Leo McEnroe, Virginia and Ger Ryan, Manager of Dovea AI put the group through their paces with marks awarded for knowledge of the breed, enthusiasm for the breed, knowledge of the animal itself, nutritional requirements, presentation of the handler with a special emphasis on ability to handle the animal and present to its best advantage.

 

Following a thorough examination and due consideration by the judges in an extremely close result Ciaran Farrell of the Trillick herd, Trillick-a-Temple, Longford was announced as the overall winner. He will represent Irish Herefords at the WHC Junior Bonanza Cattle Show to be held at the Olds Agricultural Society facility just outside Calgary, Alberta.

 

 

 

 

Congratulations to all the participants in the final and to all who competed at regional level.