The Irish Simmental Cattle Society hosted its 2026 Spring Premier Sale on Saturday, March 28, at Roscommon Co-Operative Livestock Mart.

Topping the sale at an impressive €22,000 was the Junior Bull Champion Ardtarmon Troy P.

The bull section on the day recorded an average price of €6,411, which was up almost €500 on the 2025 return, while the clearance rate was down slightly at 60%.

The pre-show judge was Martin Cunningham from Co. Antrim and the auctioneer on the day was Tom Cox.

The judge placed the aforementioned stylish young bull class winner and Junior Champion.

The top price bull was exhibited by James Mullarkey and family from Cashelgarron, Co. Sligo.

Sired by Lissadell Mr Mullarkey VIP, the bull is out of a homebred Auroch Deuter PP dam, Ardtarmon Pamela.

This very stylish 12-month-old bull was purchased by Kilbride Farm Simmentals based in Ballyclare, Co. Antrim.

The Senior Champion Rathnashan Shaggy was exhibited by Nigel Hogan from Bennekerry, Co. Carlow.

This October-2024-born bull is sired by Coose Lincoln ET and is out of a Curaheen Drifter dam, Coose Missy.

He was purchased by a Co. Kilkenny-based suckler farmer for €7,800.

The €8,000 mark was achieved twice, first up being for Glanville Setanta PP for Sean Larkin from Kylebrack, Loughrea, Co. Galway.

This homozygous polled 15-month-old bull is sired by Dirnanean Telstar and is out of a homebred Woodhall Ferrari dam, Glanville Parada P.

He was purchased by a suckler farmer who is based in Kinvara, Co. Galway.

Next at €8,000 was Thornford Trojan P exhibited by Declan and Ryan Callan from Broomfield, Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan.

At 14 months old, this heterozygous polled bull is sired by Curaheen Gunshot P and out of a Kilbride Farm Germot P homebred dam Thornford Juliette.

He was sold for export to a Co. Antrim based suckler farmer.

Selling at €7,200 was Marsha Shelby for Michael and Martin Glennon, Athlone, Co. Roscommon.

Born in December 2024, this Sheestown Tsar-sired bull is out of a Celtic Starbuck dam, Tulla Bridy.

Buyers here were the O'Halloran family for their Bearna-Dhearg herd in Co. Tipperary.

The reserve Junior Bull Clonagh Trojam Fab P was exhibited by Garrett Behan from Ballyfin, Co. Laois.

This 13-month-old bull is sired by Auroch Magnifico P and out of a homebred Kilbride Farm Dragoon dam, Clonagh Majesty Edel. He sold to Co. Cork at €5,600.

Exhibiting the Reserve Senior bull was the Treanor Family from Scotstown, Co. Monaghan.

Mainview Stout, a December-2024-born Milnafua Graduate son is out of a Manor Park Hansome dam Clonagh Nightlight Dora.

The buyer here at €4,200 was Damian Carty for his Keash herd in Ballymote, Co. Sligo.

Securing €5,400 was Kilkitt Topper P, sired by Aucher Deuter PP and out of a Ranfurly Klinker dam. This bull was sold by Sean Brady from Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan.

Gortnatra Samson Emma ET sired by Losning Iver P and out of a Glebefarm Tyson dam, sold for €5,300 for Danny Doughtery from Kerrykeel, Co. Donegal.

Making €5,000 was an entry from Fergal Doherty from Carrigart, Co. Donegal. His bull Bighill Sheriff P was an Auroch Deuter PP bull out of a Curaheen Warrior dam.

Again at €5,000 was Dermotstown Superman, with Coose Lincoln and Ballinalare Farm Galaxy in the breeding, this one was exhibited by Chris White, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin.

Farm Tommy also sold for €5,000. This Derreen Jack bull, out of a Curaheen Earp dam was sold by Bernard Flanagan from Williamstown, Co. Galway.

Simmental heifer trade

The trade for the females was described as being "very solid" with an average price of €4,295 recorded which was up on the 2025 return which was €4,130. The clearance rate here was 87%.

The top price in the heifer section went to John Finnegan from Coachford, Co. Cork with Leeherd Sweet Jasmine selling for €7,000.

The 15-month-old maiden heifer is sired by Alchester Kracker and is out of an Anatrim Dubai homebred dam, Leeherd Jasmine.

Buying this heifer that was placed second in her class earlier in the morning was Alan Clarke from Lavally, Co. Galway.

Selling at €5,500 was one of the youngest heifers in the sale, Glynwood Truffle for Liam Connell, Athlone, Co. Westmeath.

Sired by Liisadell Mr Mullarkey, this 12-month-old heifer is out of a homebred dam Glynwood Jane who is by Seepa Fionn.

Exhibiting both the Female Champion and Reserve was John Brady from Swinford, Co. Mayo with Rabawn Tiara and Rabawn Truly respectively taking the titles.

The Champion Tiara is a Auchorachan Hercules sired heifer who is out of a homebred Kilbride Farm Dragoon dam, Rabawn Jazzy.

This heifer is 12-month-old on April 1 and was purchased by Barry Fleming for his Theswan herd in Athy, Co. Kildare for €5,000.

The Reserve Champion Rabawn Truly, again under 12 months of age, was purchased by Ross McArdle for Kane Farm Herd in Co. Louth at €4,700.

Sired by Woodhall Ferrari, this young heifer is out of Clonagh Nesca Francesca, a Manor Park Hansome sired dam.

Three more heifers hit the €5,000 mark, with the first being Drom Sadie PP for Finbar McCarthy, Castletownbere, Co. Cork.

This homozygous polled heifer is sired by Curaheen Gunshot P and is out of a homebred dam Drom Nelly P, who is by Drom Lexus P.

Buying here was Katie Brangan for her Cloverland Herd in Jullianstown, Co. Meath.

Next at €5,000 was Kimora Tess, sold by Sean Lowry from Ballyfin, Co. Laois.

Sired by Mullyknock Gallant and out of a Manor Park Hansome dam, Sliabhview Lady Manor this 13-month-old heifer was purchased by Martin McElmeel for Dartin Herd in Co. Monaghan.

Also selling at €5,000 was Kilkitt Twink for Sean Brady, Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan.

Born in March 2025, this Coose Lincoln-sired heifer is out of a Dermotstown Delboy dam, Kilkitt Nadine. She was sold to a new breeder in Co. Tipperary.