The Irish Charolais Cattle Society hosted its Spring 2026 Premier Sale on Saturday, March 21, at Elphin Mart, Co. Roscommon.

The event "proved a tremendous success, with a super display of quality bulls and heifers and a record-breaking trade from start to finish," according to a statement from the cattle breed society.

The average price for the bulls was €7,800, "making this sale the top-priced average sale ever," according to the society.

The average sale price of the heifers offered on the day was €6,200.

Top price of €16,200

Taking the top price in the sale was a herd prefix that is no stranger to the sale price headlines.

The renowned Goldstar herd secured €16,400 for their Junior Champion bull Goldstar Abraham ET.

The January 2025-born bull was sired by society bull Neptune.

He caught the eye of judge David Bothwell of the Killadeas Herd based in Northern Ireland and later sold to a pedigree herd in Co. Galway.

The next top price of €13,600 went to Intermediate Champion Derryolam Vesper, bred by Niall McNally from Co. Monaghan.

This bull is a powerful Texan Gie son and was purchased by a pedigree herd in Co. Westmeath after attracting strong interest all day.

Eamonn and Daniel O’Connor had a standout sale, with their second-prize winner Breaghwyhill Alfie 2 ET selling for €12,400 to herd in Northern Ireland.

This stylish Neptune-sired bull had been a social media sensation leading up to the sale and lived up to the expectation.

Martin Shevlin’s Nolagh Adam, sired by society bull SG Nenuphar, drew fierce ringside competition before selling for €12,400 to a pedigree herd in Co. Longford.

This super young bulls' dam is sired by Bigal and he carries two copies of the F94L gene.

Clenagh Valiant ET, sired by Clenagh Lyle and bred by Barry Quinn was Reserve Intermediate Champion on the day.

He was bred from a Whitcliffe James Dam and was a single carrier of the F94L and Q204X gene.

He sold to a Co. Leitrim-based suckler farmer for €11,400.

The O’Connors struck again with Junior Reserve Champion Breaghwyhill All Star ET, another Neptune son and bred from a Ballymyle Vagabond Dam (Liscally My Fair lady).

This one sold for €11,000 to a top suckler herd in Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim. He carried two copies of the F94L gene.

Michael Daly’s Senior Champion Tullaghan Valentino was a powerful Neptune-sired bull and from a Knockmoyle Loki dam.

He also attracted fierce bidding before selling to a Co. Roscommon suckler farmer for €10,400.

Pat McClean of the Roughan herd, Co. Donegal, secured €10,200 for his first-prize winner Roughan Valux, a son of Roughan Safran.

This stylish young bull attracted huge interest and later sold to a farmer in Co. Louth.

The Mulligan family from Co. Leitrim enjoyed success with Rooskeynamona Vladimir, a Magicien son from a Pirate dam.

He carried one copy of the F94l gene and later sold to Co. Sligo for €10,000.

Other notable prices from the sale included:

€9,600 for Roger McHugh’s CF52 son Tonland Ashley ET selling to Co. Clare;
€9,000 for Fergal and Liam McDermott’s Noble Prince son Aughnacreevy Valentine ET selling to Co. Fermanagh;
€8,600 for Michael Kiernan’s Lapon son Gallaway Van Dam ET, selling to Co. Mayo;
€8,400 for Michael Grant’s Dromiskin Viceroy son Maghermore Adam selling to Co. Sligo;
€8,200 for Mattie Kelly’s Reserve Senior Champion, sired by Reglisse. Cloughbrack Valentino sold to Co. Donegal;
€8,000 for Christopher McCarthy’s CF52 son Ronnamont Vito selling to Co. Monaghan;
€7,600 for Maria Calvey's Neptune son Caltun Valentine selling to Ballyhaise College, Co. Cavan;
€7,400 for Sarah Currans' Neptune son Beachview Vivrole ET selling to Co. Leitrim;
€7,200 for Ronan Beirnes' Grangewood Royal Oak son Caldra Victor selling to Co. Meath
€7,200 for Basil Bothwell’s Reglisse son Dereskit Ventura selling to Northern Ireland;
€7,200 for Olivia Purcell’s CF52 son Bud Alpha ET selling to Longford;
€7,000 for Thomas McGowan's Goldstar Echo son Cloonshanna Van Basten ET selling to Roscommon;
€7,000 for Pat McClean's Roughan Scotland Son Roughan Verygood selling to Co. Sligo;
€7,000 for John Kingham's Texan Gie son Tattera Adam selling to Co. Galway.

The next Charolais Society sale will take place on April 25 at GVM Tullamore Mart, Co. Offaly.

Charolais heifers at Elphin premier

There were also a selection of heifers on offer at the event in Elphin on Saturday.

Eoin McGovern’s Crossane VIP ET received the Overall Champion title and sold for €9,800 to a Northern Ireland breeder.

VIP was sired by Texan Gie out of a Doonally New dam.

Next highest heifer price went to the youngest heifer in the sale.

Gallaway Alanagh, bred by Michael Kiernan, Co. Leitrim was Reserve Champion and later sold to a Co. Cavan breeder for €8,000.

This Neptune daughter is out of a Lyonsdemesne Tzar dam.

Other leading female prices included:

€6,400 for Basil Kell’s heifer Dalehill Valeria, sired by Fiston and out of a Doonally New dam, purchased by a Co. Monaghan breeder;
€6,400 for Michael Quinn’s Clenagh Unique ET, sired by Clenagh Hank and out of a Doonally New dam, selling to a Co. Sligo breeder;
€6,000 for Jerry O’Keeffe’s Grangwood Valley of Dreams Infidele, first prize winner out of a Jacquard dam, selling to Co. Roscommon;
€5,000 for Shane Conlon’s young Neptune bred Shacon Violet, out of Goldstar Sally, selling to Co. Wexford;
€5,000 for Jerry O’Keeffe’s Lapon bred Grangwood Vogue, out of a Goldstar Echo dam, selling to Co. Limerick;
€5,000 for Michael Kiernan’s Gallaway Violet Rose ET, sired by Lapon and out of a Doonally New dam, selling to Co. Clare

The society thanked judges David Bothwell and shadow judge James Gardiner as well as all who helped out on the day.