The Irish Hereford Breed Society hosted its annual Hereford Show and Sale at Central Auctions in Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, on Thursday, May 14.

According to a sale report from the society, there were 22 bulls present on the day with "a good series of spring bull sales for the Irish Hereford Breed Society and strong trade at home" being attributed to lower numbers of bulls on offer.

The average price of the sale was €3,990, which was up slightly from the 2025 average sale price of €3,935.

A total of 12 bulls changed hands on the day for €4,000 or more, three of which sold for €5,000.

The event kicked off with judge in the pre-sale show, Eugene Lynch of the Droumdaniel Herd in Co. Cork tapping forward his winners.

Champion

Eugene's choice of champion came in the form of Carrick Sam 2 HH from the Co. Cavan-based herd of Philip Lynch.

Sam went on to sell for the joint top-price in the sale of €5,000 to a farmer in Co. Tipperary.

This homozygous horned bull has four stars for docility and carcass conformation and is sired by Corlismore Cormac 076 and out of Carrick Irine, a Corlismore Trumpster 616 daughter.

The judge's choice of Reserve Champion was Double Tree Vicking HH, from the Co. Cork herd of Kieran Noonan.

Vicking is sired by Allowdale Rambo 475 and bred from a Carhuefree Prince-sired dam, Double Tree Lisa.

Vicking has five stars for Daughter Milk, four stars on the Replacment Index (€108) and for Gestation Length and Age at Finish.

Vicking went on to sell later in the sale as one of six bulls that went for €4,000.

A further two bulls made the high price mark of €5,000 along with sale Champion, Carrick Sam 2 HH.

The first of these into the €5,000 price was was another Co. Cavan bull, Evelagh Mufasa PP from William Spotten’s herd.

Mufasa came with a page of stars, selling with five stars for each of the:

Replacement (€123);
Terminal (€91);
Dairy-Beef (€124);
Beef Sub-Index of the DBI (€104);
Gestation Length;
Carcass Weight.

He is also better than the breed average for calving ease with a score of 3.7% on dairy cows.

This homozygous polled bull is sired by Ballymartle 1 Big Joe and bred from Corranpoll 1 Janice, a Solpoll 1 Lawman daughter.

The third bull to sell for €5,000 came from the Co. Roscommon herd of Sinead Conry, Rathnollag Dazler HH.

This bull also performs well on the ICBF Indexes, with five stars for each of the Terminal (€75) and Dairy-Beef (€116) indexes as well as for the Beef Sub-Index of the DBI (€101), Carcass Weight, and Carcass Conformation.

Dazler has four stars for the Replacement Index (€101) and is better than breed average for calving ease (3.3% on dairy cows).

Dazler has Rathnollag breeding on both sides: Sire – Rathnollag Spotlight, Dam – Rathnollag Lola 933 (sired by Rathnollag Power).

The next highest price of the sale was from another Co. Roscommon breeder, Padraig McGrath.

His bull, Kye Buddy 081 HH, sold for €4,600, having placed first in Class 3 of the show.

Buddy ranks well on the EuroStar Indexes, with five stars for the DBI (€105), the Beef Sub-Index of the DBI (€102), Docility, Age at Finish, Carcass Weight and Carcass Conformation.

He has a calving ease figure of 3.7% on Dairy Cows and has four stars on the Terminal Index (€74).

Buddy is sired by Balleen Flyer and bred from Kye Nina 943 (a Pulham Ranger daughter).

Selling for €4,300 was Trillick Tadhg HH, from Co. Longford breeder, JJ Farrell.

With five stars on the Replacement Index (€117) and for daughter milk, and four stars for docility and age at finish, Tadhg also has a calving ease figure of 3.4% on dairy cows.

Tadhg is homozygous horned and is sired by Balleen Stirling and bred from Trillick Cherry, a Steil Gerard-sired cow.

William Duff, Co. Tipperary, sold his bull, Ballinalick Pluto HH for €4,200.

Pluto placed first in Class four of the show and has four stars for the Beef Sub-Index of the DBI (€88), Docility, Carcass Weight, and Carcass Conformation.

He is sired by Ballinalick Marvel 2 HH and bred from Fiacra Ellen, a Knockmountagh Homer 2 daughter.

A further five bulls sold for €4,000 during the sale:

Lot three: Mountwilliams Tunder HH. Breeder: Aidan Farrell, Co. Westmeath. Sire: Haven Kingpin. Dam: Mountwilliams Louise.
Lot 10: Astellas Mr Tribute 591 HH. Breeder: Kathleen Stokes, Co. Cork. Sire: Astellas Rambo 2. Dam: Astellas Melaine.
Lot 17: Moyclare Xmas HH. Breeder: Michael Molloy, Co. Offaly. Sire: Moyclare Vance. Dam: Moyclare Rose 53.
Lot 20: Glaslough Cavalier HH. Breeder: Nigel Heatrick, Co. Monaghan. Sire: Balleen Hitman. Dam: Glaslough Viola.
Lot 23: Fortelm Gladiator PP. Breeder: James Wycherly, Co. Cork. Sire: Midford 1 Whizzbang PP. Dam: HEIRL372214474480669.

The society expressed its thanks to all who supported the sale in any way, including the show judge, Eugene Lynch, sale auctioneer, Eamonn Gaffney, Central Auctions Nenagh, and Irish Hereford Prime for its continued sponsorship.