Premier Heifer Show and Sale

The Irish Hereford Breed Society held its second Premier Heifer Show & Show on Saturday 13^th December in GVM Tullamore Mart, Co. Offaly. A quality showing of 33 heifers were exhibited, with a representation from all four provinces making the journey.

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The pre-sale show, kicking off at 10.30am, went off very smoothly, with judge, Mr. Jack Wilson of the Lisrace Hereford Herd in Co. Fermanagh selecting Co. Westmeath breeders, T & A Fitzgerald’s heifer, Grianan Cooperobin C 033 HH as sale Champion. This stylish heifer was sired by Pulham Powerhouse and out of homebred cow, Grianan Cooperobin 712 (a Grianan Parker daughter). Cooperobin has 5 stars for Age at Finish, Carcass weight and Carcass conformation and went on to be one of the three joint second highest priced heifers in the sale, selling for €5,000 to a Co. Cork based breeder.

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Standing at Reserve Champion was Padraig Farrell’s heifer, Cave Hill Dolly HH. Half-sister to the Champion, Dolly is also sired by Pulham Powerhouse, and is out of Cave Hill Éabha. Dolly also performs well in EuroStar ratings, with 5 stars for Age at Finish, Carcass weight and Carcass conformation. She sold for €3,800 to a breeder in Co. Kilkenny. Both the Champion and Reserve Champion came from the August-September 2024 class, having placed 1^st and 2^nd.

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The sale subsequently began at 1pm, with 21 of 33 heifers finding new homes at an average price of €3,890. Having tasted success and winning sale Champion at the sale in 2024, it was Co. Monaghan breeder, Nigel Heatrick who took home the sale’s top price (€5,900), for his heifer, Glaslough Crystal 2 HH. Crystal is sired by stock bull, Cill Cormaic Quinlan and out of Glaslough Texas, and is a full sister to last year’s sale champion, Glaslough Yoselin.

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A further two heifers sold for €5,000, with Eugene Lynch’s heifer, Droumdaniel Mel Bella 175 HH and Nigel Heatrick’s Glaslough Candice HH both being knocked down by auctioneer Eamonn Gaffney for €5,000.

Droumdaniel Mel Bella 175 HH is sired by Balleen Powerplay HH and out of Droumdaniel Mel Bella 1096, a Auckvale Stroll On sired cow.

Glaslough Candice HH is home bred on both sides - sired by Glaslough Stan and out of Glaslough Zip, another daughter of Cill Cormaic Quinlan.

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A further six heifers went on to reach over €4,000. JP Scott of Co. Laois, received €4,600 for his heifer, Athgreine Sally 297 (HYF). Co. Cork breeder, John Appelbe’s heifer, Appel 1 Cha Cha Cha, sold for €4,400, with his other heifer, Appel Roisin PP selling for €4,100. Co. Tipperary based breeder Paul Sammon, sold Firmoll Fanny Piper PP for €4,300. Michael Barrett from Co. Cork sold his heifer, Gurtaleen Inchvale Yoko 2^nd HH for €4,000. Co. Westmeath breeders, Michael & Ciaran Kinahan sold Tullyview Orange R 603 HH for €4,000.

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The Irish Hereford Breed Society was delighted with the success of this sale, which was the finalshow & sale of what has been a very successful 2025. They thank all of those involved with the sale, including the judge, Mr. Jack Wilson, auctioneer, Mr. Eamonn Gaffney, the staff at GVM Tullamore, photographer, Shanon Kinahan – Country Clicks, and all of the buyers and sellers that supported the sale. The society wish all purchasers the best of luck with their new stock.

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