A relatively new Angus Herd on the scene 'stole the show' at a 100 Anniversary pedigree show and sale which took place on Saturday, April 4, at the Showgrounds, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Roscommon.

Co. Cavan man Niall Conaty, owner of the Ellens Angus Herd prefix, established in 2018 - which is relatively new by measure of pedigree herd prefixes - took home three of the top four prices on the day.

He also took home the Champion Angus bull title and rosettes for all three of his home-bred bulls entered in the pre-sale show.

This year marks the centenary year of the Midlands and Western Livestock Improvement Society.

The weekend event saw special rosettes and medals sponsored by the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) awarded to class winners on the day.

Judging the Angus and Hereford classes on the day was Albert De Cogan from Castlemartyr, Co. Cork, while the Shorthorn classes were judged by Ronan O’Hare from Portumna, Co. Galway.

There were 82 pedigree bulls and 21 pedigree heifers exhibited on the day, with 55 bulls and 16 heifers selling to an average sale price of €4,310 and €2,378 respectively.

The 50 Angus bulls sold on the day averaged €4,437, with a top price of €8,800 achieved by Niall Conaty for his bull Lot 43 Ellens Buddy.

Sired by by Drumcrow Reeko, Buddy's dam was Shankill Martha by Thrunton Rocket. He was purchased by John Farrell for the Ballinwing Farm owned by Jim Mulvey.

The Ballinwing Farm was establishing in 1924 by James Mulvey, who was also one of the founding members of the Midland and Western Livestock Improvement Society.

Judge in the pre-sale show Albert De Cogan tapped forward Lot 38 Ellens Boss as his choice of champion Angus bull, also from the pen of Niall Conaty.

Boss was sired by Rawburn Boss Hogg N630 and his dam was Shankill Matilda. This one sold to a customer based in Munster for €8,200.

Conaty's third entry on the day was Lot 61 Ellens Benny sired by by Drumcrow Reeko and his dam was Ellens Ursula by Intelagri Matteo ET.

This bull took the fourth-highest price on the day of €7,800 and was purchased by the Gigginstown Angus Herd based in Co. Westmeath.

The well-known Co. Westmeath-based Angus Herd owned by Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary - which is set to host an on-farm sale on Saturday, April 18 - also purchased the second-highest priced bull on the day, Lot 24 Rathmooney Jude Eric A157, owned by Gabriel Hoey from Co. Dublin.

This bull was sired by Laheens Virgo and off a Gigginstown Jupiter Elle cow and sold for €8,500.

Pedigree Heifers

In the pedigree heifer section, it was a Shorthorn that took the top price.

Marie McNamara from Scariff, Co. Clare sold her Raheenadeeragh Jumbo-sired heifer Tintrim Heidi for €4,000.

A 19-month-old Angus heifer took the second top price in the heifer section.

Niall Regan from Castlerea, Co. Roscommon sold a 19-month-old Drumcrow Urban Fire-sired heifer Dillon Annabel for €3,800.

The third-highest priced heifer was a 22-month old Hereford heifer owned by William Spotten from Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan.

Lot 118, Evelagh Clover PP sold for €3,400. She was sired by Ballymartle 1 Big Joe and her dam was Corranpoll 1 Jubilee.

The top-priced of two Shorthorn bulls sold on the day made €4,000 for Amelda Middleton Leonard, while the top-priced of three Hereford bulls sold on the day made €3,000 for Mary Burke from Strokestown, Co. Roscommon.