This year’s Growvite All-Ireland finals will go down as one of the best in the history of the organisation!
Over 100 pedigree Aberdeen Angus animals were exhibited at this year’s All-Ireland finals which took place at the National Ploughing Championships
The tent was a hive of activity from early morning before any sun rose and right till the gates closed that evening.
Tasked with judging this year’s event was Ewen Campbell of the Killmallie herd in Scotland. His professionalism kept the massive crowds which watched entertained for almost six hours. After much deliberation he found his supreme Growvite champion in the form of Kerins Riokemi from Sligo native Bernard Kerins and family. A seven-year-old cow shown alongside her six-month-old calf, the pair secured first in the senior cow class before being tapped forward Zurich senior champion and eventually supreme champion.
Commenting on his champion, Ewen said “I like to see my female working hard and this cow is working really hard, rearing a lovely heifer calf.
This stunning cow is sired by Luddenmore Fionn with her dam is Kerins Kemi who stood reserve overall at this competition 10 years previous.
It was another senior cow who was to come closest to Riokemi on the day. Securing second in her class, before securing the reserve senior title and reserve supreme was Liss Minree U799 from John and Sean McEnroe, Co Meath. Shown alongside her seven-month-old bull calf, this daughter of Liss Marty P417 was described by the judge as “another hard working cow with a great bull calf at foot”
Securing the Angus Beef Ireland intermediate championship was Mogeely Elana Z895 from Kieran Mariga, Co Cork. This stylish first calver won the junior cow class and needs no introduction having claimed the overall championship at last months Tullamore show. Sired by Drumbeera Everest she is out of Tomriland Elana R287.
It proved a hugely successful day for Dr Michael Sheahan’s Luddenmore herd in Cappawhite, Co Tipperary. Highlight was the junior champion Luddenmore Faeroe B688. This seven-month-old bull is sired by stock bull Carruthers Earl with the dam Luddenmore Fleur P236. No stranger to success this bull was overall champion in Dualla on his first outing.
Adding to this success was his stable mate, Luddenmore Fleur A663 who claimed the title of reserve junior champion. This young heifer is sired by the homebred Luddenmore Ebony Boy and out of the aforementioned Fleur line.
Luddenmore Ellen Erica A655 capped the highly successful day for the herd when she was tapped forward as reserve intermediate champion. This heifer is sired by Drumhill Exeter with her dam sired by Friarstown Evolver.
Judge Ewen Campbell is also chairman of the Youth Development programme so the young handler really got put through their passes. Securing top spot in the senior section was Cliodhna Smith from Co Meath with Eoin Robinson from Co Westmeath close behind.
In the junior section Diarmuid Mullanney emerged victorious, closely followed by Adm Robinson, Adam Kearney and Rowan Smith.
The classes:
Advantage Feeders Senior bull champion
𝐋𝐚𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐠𝐨. Exhibited by Gabriel Hoey, Country Crest, Dublin. This rising three year old bull is sired by Rawburn Boss Hogg and is the senior herd sire in the herd.
Ark Animal Care Intermediate bull champion
𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞 𝐀𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫. This 16 month old bull is a son of herd stock bull Knockmountagh Robert out of Currycamp Polly.
Autumn bull calf champion
𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐉𝐮𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐞 𝐄𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝟎𝟕𝟑. Bred by Malachy Tighe, Co Meath. This September 2024 born bull is sired by former herd sire Stouphill Mr Perry and will be offered as Lot 55 in the upcoming Extravaganza sale in two weeks!
Greenvale Animal Feeds autumn 2023 born heifer champion
𝐑𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐲. Exhibited by Declan and Chloe Miley, Roscommon. This two-year-old heifer is sired by Ballyshannon Pat and is a foundation female for the Mileys herd.
Heifer calf December 2024 onwards champion
𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐚 𝐀𝟑𝟕𝟑. Bred and exhibited by Pat and Finbarr Cahill, Co Cavan. This heifer calf is sired by Lavally Ultra and out of Shankill Mamie U159
April 2025 born onwards champion
𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐄𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐁𝟒𝟕𝟎. Bred and exhibited by John and Sean McEnroe, Co Meath. Sired by the homebred Liss Dingle this April 2025 born bull calf is out of Liss Erica U791
Champion pair of the show.
𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐝𝐮𝐟𝐟 𝐀𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐬. Bred and exhibited by Leo McEnroe, Co Cavan
Big thanks to the exhibitors who came from all four corners of the country to make this happen, for what was no doubt one of the best shows of Aberdeen Angus cattle for some time.
This year we were kept up to date on social media by photography which meant our event got a wider number of spectators than ever before. Many thanks for such a professional job! Also, many thanks to Catherine Laurenson from Photography whose patience ensured pictures were taken that will last a lifetime! (Stay tuned for the full album!)
Andy Fraizer from the worldwide known podcast Toplines and Tales offered a world of knowledge as MC for the day but also recorded a podcast at the event. Many thanks for your time and we all look forward to listening in!
Days like this are not possible without trojan work behind the scenes by all the council of the Irish Aberdeen Angus Association who work on a voluntary basis to ensure its membership remains at the forefront of the industry. So again, a big thank you here!
It would also be a miss not to again mention the NPA who pulled out all the stops to ensure the day for all ran as smooth as possible.
Last but certainly not least, is our sponsors. We very much thank Univet for the continued support in what is their 36th year sponsoring the event. Many thanks to Mark and Stephen who presented vouchers and prizes throughout the day.
Two other key sponsors of the event were Angus Beef Ireland and Zurich Insurance. These two companies are gold sponsors for our three major autumn events which include the All Irelands, the Extravaganza (Oct 4th) and National calf show/Autumn Advantage sale (Nov 22nd).
Along with these we also had new and existing sponsors in Ark Animal Care Dairy Direct Ltd. Lisduff Angus Exports and Greenvale Animal Feeds. We thank you very much for your very generous contribution.
Next stop Thurles on Saturday October 4th for the much-anticipated Extravaganza!
