Dear Members,
It has been another great couple of months for the Association and I hope this update finds you all well!
All-Ireland Finals
The summer shows culminated in the All-Ireland Finals held at Dualla show at the end of
August, attracting exhibitors from right across Ireland. Massive congratulations to the
Kearney family who claimed their first Supreme All-Ireland Championship with their
homebred Jadam Lady Sandra X150.
National Ploughing Championships
In the final weeks of September, the Association was present at the National Ploughing Championships held in Ratheniska, Co. Laois. With the Association the only remaining cattle society the tent recorded record footfall. Partnering with Angus Beef Ireland once again, the tent proved a hive of activity for the three days with great interest and confidence in the Aberdeen Angus breed shown by all who visited it.
YDP
Just one week later the Youth Development Finals returned to Irish soil for the first time since 2019. This year’s finals were held in Thurles mart with accommodation provided at the Anner hotel. The weekend proved a tremendous success but it would not have been
possible without the commitment from our super judges, co-ordinators, helpers, staff and
management at Mid-Tipp mart and the Anner hotel. Special mention to all the breeders who came together supplying 40 fully broken, exceptionally quiet cattle for the young competitors to use at the finals.
The finals again resulted in a great success for the Irish team, with John Smyth taking overall senior champion and Eoin Robinson taking overall intermediate champion. That said, the whole team performed exceptionally well taking high placings in a range of categories – so well done to all!
To see the level of enthusiasm and talent coming through in all sections gives great us great confidence that the breed has a very long and healthy future.
Extravaganza
The following week, in early October we hosted the Autumn Extravaganza in Thurles. The event combined our autumn Premier Sale, All-Ireland Herds Competition prizegiving and the National Calf Show.
Many congratulations to all the winners, vendors and purchasers over this super weekend.
Our genetic excellence sale of 54 pre-inspected lots recorded a whopping average of just
shy of €5,000 with clearance rate hitting over 95%. The sale also recorded a new Irish male
record and European red Angus record price when Mercury Red Evo Z910 sold for a
massive €27,800! On the female front trade topped at €9,000 for Lavally Lady J Carmel
Y455 from John Mullooly and family.
The Association also launched the ‘You Pick, We Pay’ campaign for the 2024 sale. Here the Hickey family walked away with the €6,500 Lisduff Baroness Y096 completely free! This is the first pedigree Angus female the family have so we hope it sets them on the right path.
A total of 14 animals were exported with new markets opened to Romania, Belgium and Italy at this year’s sale. Further testament that the sale has not only cemented itself as the best sale in Ireland but perhaps across Europe.
In the National Calf Show, taking the title of Angus Beef Ireland Supreme Champion for the
second-year running was Dr Michael Sheahan, Cappawhite, Co Tipperary. This years champion was the homebred female Luddenmore Frances Z597.
Also, a massive well done to our three new winners of the All-Ireland Herds Competition; the McClafferty herd of Charlie and Hugh McClafferty claimed the small herd title, the Clontead herd of Eustace and Deirdre Burke took the medium herd accolade and the large herd title was retained by the Goulding herd of Matthew and Rita Goulding.
This whole weekend would not be possible without MartEye, Midd-Tipp mart and our very
generous sponsors. We are very grateful to our Gold and Silver sponsors; Angus Beef
Ireland, Progressive Genetics/Munster Bovine and Dunmasc Genetics.
Full reports for both the sale and show are available on the website.
2025 Extravaganza
The council undertook a full debrief of the Extravaganza following the event. As entry
numbers for the sale continue to rise year on year, its essential that the quality of animals put forward is maintained and that inspections are kept as efficient as possible. The following motions were passed ahead of next years event that members should be aware of:
- All females must be registered with the Irish Aberdeen Angus Association from birth
- All entries are charged a non-refundable €20, those that are selected to be the top 50
for the catalogue will be charged an additional €40 (total €60) - Any catalogued animals which fail to show, with no genuine reason given, will be
charged an additional €100 no show fee.
Bull selection will remain as qualifying through the club calf finals. The National calf show will remain open to all pedigree registered Aberdeen Angus no matter what the herdbook they are registered with.
Review
We have had a bumper year of sales and Aberdeen Angus cattle have performed exceptionally in the show ring also. In next years Review we aim to highlight everything that makes the breed great, along with getting you up to speed on all of what the Association now offers.
As with previous year’s Review’s, we want to be sure that Association members are to the forefront. To do this, we are offering members a special rate. Please contact the office for more information.
This will allow breeders to advertise to Aberdeen Angus breeders both here in Ireland and in the 18 other European countries currently registering with the Association.
Reviews will also be available at all our main events including any international events the
Association attends.
If we can ever be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Kind Regards,
Shane Murphy
