Gigginstown House Angus, the pedigree cattle herd owned by Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary, is set to host its annual on-farm sale of pedigree-registered Angus bulls and heifers this Saturday, April 18.

The 2026 edition of the sale is set to feature 25 bulls and 20 pedigree-registered Angus heifers offered for sale.

The on-farm sale will kick off on the day at 1:00pm at Fennor Farm just outside Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, and will be conducted by Ballyjamesduff Co. Operative Livestock Mart, with online bidding available via MartEye.

Speaking to Agriland on a special edition of the 'Beef Brief' podcast, O'Leary said that this year's sale marks 30 years since Gigginstown House Stud imported its first 25 pedigree Angus cattle from Canada.

The Ryanair CEO discussed the current state of play in beef prices as well as a range of other topical issues facing Irish agriculture.

All bulls ready to breed

All bulls offered in the sale are being sold as "ready to breed".

There will be 22 black Angus and three red Angus bulls offered on the day.

As well as these, the sale will also feature "an elite selection" of 20 pedigree Angus females.

15 of these heifers will be sold as in-calf or with calves at foot, and the remaining five will be sold as maiden heifers.

Shadwell Genetics

This year's 30th anniversary sale will feature the first stock bulls and pedigree females bred from the famous Shadwell Angus herd.

These progeny are bred from Shadwell stock bought by Gigginstown at the Shadwell dispersal in 2022.

As well as the Shadwell-bred progeny, the 2026 Gigginstown sale features a selection of Angus genetics from sires including:

Rawburn Boss Hogg;
Drumcrow 2020;
Ebon Hill Extra Gold.

Commenting on the selection of bulls and heifers to be offered in the sale, O'Leary said: "Our 25 bulls range in age from 18 to 20 months, and are ready to breed."

O'Leary added that they "will be ideal" for pedigree Angus breeders, and/or dairy farmers that want to produce easy-calving calves for the Certified Irish Angus beef programme.

"This year's selection of females will be particularly attractive to breeders, not just in Ireland but across the UK and Continental Europe, as they include our first selection of females bred from the Shadwell Angus herd, which we were so fortunate to acquire at their dispersal sale in late 2022.

O'Leary added that he looks forward to "personally welcoming everyone" to Fennor Farm for the sale.