The Irish Simmental Cattle Society hosted a show and sale on Friday evening, April 24, at GVM Tullamore Mart, Co. Offaly.

The average sale price for the bulls traded on the evening was €5,466 and a sale report from the society noted that the trade was "mixed, with many potential buyers not purchasing when they did not secure their preferred lots".

The judge in the pre-sale show was Manus Connolly from the Ardunsaghan Herd in Co. Leitrim.

Top price

Simmental breeder Gerry Neenan from Coolnafarna, Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo, secured an impressive €10,100 for his entry, Lot one, Fearna Siegfrieds Son ET.

This August-2024-born bull was sired by Siegfried and is out of a Milton Lord Tiffany-sired homebred dam, Fearna Tiffany ET.

This bull drew plenty of attention at the event and was purchased in partnership by two Northern Ireland pedigree herds:

Drumagarner Herd owned by Eamon McCloskey, Coleraine, Co. Derry;
Kilmore Herd owned by Chris Traynor, Co. Armagh.

Next up selling at €5,200 was the Reserve Champion in the pre-sale show, Towerhill Soldier Boy P.

This bull was sold by Seamus Aherne from Cappamore, Co. Limerick.

Placed as Reserve Champion in the pre-sale show, this December-2024-born bull is sired by Saltire Impressive and out of an Auroch Gohan P homebred dam, Towerhill Kandy Girl P.

This bull was purchased by the Kilkitt Herd owned by Sean Brady from Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan.

The Overall Champion in the pre-sale show was Clonagh Trident Fabulous exhibited by Garrett Behan from Ballyfin, Co. Laois.

This 14-month-old bull is sired by Kilbride Farm Dragoon and is out of a Clonagh World Class-sired dam Clonagh Jenny Fabolous. This bull sold for €4,800.

William O'Riordan from Rathcormac, Co. Cork, sold lot 3 Bridgemount Shay for €4,600.

Born at the end of October 2024, this Derreen Knight-sired bull is out of a Curraheen Earp dam, Bridgemount Lisa.

Acushla Tommy Hilfiger exhibited by Eoin Coogan from Kiltegan, Co. Wicklow sold for €4,100.

The 15-month-old bull is sired by Clonagh Nevada Trudy and is out of a Crugmelyn Brenin dam Kilbride Farm Eunice 306K.

Martin Mooney from Shannonharbour, Birr, Co. Offaly, hit the €4,000 mark with Tisaran Tornado.

Born in January 2025, this young bull is sired by Coose Napoleon P ET and out of an Anatrim Bodybuilder dam, Fearna Faith.

The clearance rate was described as "lower than average" on the evening.

Simmental yearbook

In other society news, the Irish Simmental Cattle Society recently launched its 2026 yearbook.

The 156-page online only publication looks through the breed society highlights from 2024 and 2025.

In the yearbook, the cattle breed society president William O'Halleron looks through some of the challenges and opportunities faced by the cattle breed in Ireland.

The publication also includes reviews from different breed-related event that took place across Ireland in that time period.