The Pedigree Breeders Association of Ireland (PBAI) hosted the inaugural all-star pedigree awards in Portlaoise last weekend. There was terrific feedback received from the 14 cattle societies involved, with award recipients delighted to be acknowledged for their work.
Each of the societies got to choose their own recipient and while many chose the overall champion at their national finals, some went down the route of choosing based on index or even lifelong work around the breed.
Belgian Blue – Don Moriah
Belgian Blue winner Don Moriah.
This super young Blue heifer was bred and exhibited by Daniel O’Donovan, Dunmanway, Co Cork. Along with claiming the overall championship at Tullamore Show, she travelled 2,250 miles in pursuit of perfection, picking up 11 overall championships on her way. Sired by Imperial, she is out of an Empire-bred dam.
Aubrac – Ballintra Eve 1
Aubrac winner Ballintra Eve 1.
The Aubrac cattle society rewarded Ballintra Eve 1 for her replacement index of €234. Owned by Francis and Jennifer Donohoe, Eve’s pedigree consists of some of Europe’s top Aubrac bloodlines. In her nine years on the Johnstown farm, Eve has bred eight calves, calving within 365 days for the past six years.
Hereford – Grianan Prim T
Hereford winner Grianan Prim T854.\MacGregor photography
Taking the overall national Hereford title at Tullamore Show in 2019 was the young heifer Grianan Prim T. This 12-month-old heifer was bred by the Fitzgerald family, but was purchased six weeks prior to the show by Sarah Murray and she brought it to championship success. Sired by Grianan Parker, Prim was brought to four shows this summer, claiming either champion or reserve titles at each.
Blonde – Jim Carey
The Blonde D’Aquitaine society chose to acknowledge Jim Carey of Johnstown Blondes. Jim was one of the first breeders to use Blondes in 1975. The herd had 40 cows at its peak. One of the biggest accolades received by the herd was winning the RDS Show in 1983. Jim is a devoted council member, having served 18 years and chaired it on two occasions.
Simmental – Clonagh Jubilant Fabulous
Simmental winner Clonagh Jubilant Fabulous. \ Alfie Shaw
Taking the Simmental national championship at Tullamore Show was Clonagh Jubilant Fabulous from Garrett and Lyndsey Behan, Ballyfin, Portlaoise. This heifer was later offered at the society’s premier autumn sale, where she set a new female sale price record of €18,000. This Kilbride Farm Dragoon-sired heifer is out of a Banwy T-Rex-sired dam. The Behan outfit topped all the major sections at Tullamore Show, with 2019 being the eighth year out of 10 that they took home the overall championship.
Aberdeen Angus - Mogeely
Dreamer
Aberdeen Angus winner Mogeely Dreamer T534.
Taking the overall championship at the Irish Aberdeen Angus all-Ireland finals in Dualla was Mogeely Dreamer from John and Sean McEnroe, Oldcastle, Co Meath. John and Sean run the Liss herd, which was established in the 1950s. This all-Ireland win marked the fourth time the herd has won the title, the last time 21 years ago. This bull is sired by Wedderlie Blackbox, a bull who also won the overall title three years ago in Trim. Dreamer, originally bred by Albert and Jennifer DeCogan, was purchased by McEnroe at the Irish Aberdeen Angus Association premier sale in Carrick-on-Shannon last November.
Limousin – Rhyne Noah
Limousin winner Rhyne Noah. \ Alfie Shaw
The Limousin cattle society hosted the inaugural champion of champions competition last year. The overall winner of this was announced at Trim Show and was won by Longford man Mark Hagan with Rhyne Noah. This bull was also senior champion at the society’s autumn premier sale in Roscrea, where he later sold for the top price of €8,000. Sired by Dovea AI bull Wilodge Joskins, the April 2018-born bull is out of a Festin-bred cow.
Shorthorn - Portshan Blueway
Shorthorn winner Portshan Blueway.
Portshan Blueway, owned by Noel and Lisa Dowd from the Creaga herd in Creggs, Co Galway, is this year’s Irish Shorthorn Society best-in-breed recipient. Blueway is sired by Rockville Clohessy Dice and was purchased by the Dowd family at just nine months old. 2019 was a tremendous year for this senior heifer, as she secured the all-Ireland senior Shorthorn heifer championship, as well as the Irish Shows Association reserve interbreed all-Ireland suckler-type heifer championship in Claremorris. The Creaga herd also claimed the top spot in the show teams challenge championship in the same year.
Irish Angus – Mayo R Magic
Irish Angus winner Mayo R Magic.
The Irish Angus society nominated Gerry Kilgallan for his all-Ireland champion Mayo R Magic. This stylish young bull is a son of Bohey Jasper, while the dam goes back to Newpark Hugo and Nakkeg Nord. This result follows the successful outing by Kilgallon at the 2018 Strokestown Show, where he took the overall championship with his senior cow Mayo Karin. This same cow also took the senior female championship at last year’s show, along with winning the senior championship at Tullamore Show.
Parthenaise – Liam Fitzgerald
One of Parthenaise winner Liam Fitzgerald’s champion cows.
The Irish Parthenaise Cattle Society nominated Liam Fitzgerald, Liscarrol, Co Cork, for his work at promoting the breed. Liam attends nearly every show the Parthenaise breed has classes at and won the championship at his local Charleville Show and Tullamore Show on numerous occasions. One of his stand-out cows Altamira Brenda has produced 12 offspring, with 10 of them securing red rosettes. Her natural offspring can be found in Northern Ireland, UK and Czech Republic, as well as embryo calves calving down at the moment in Australia.
Salers - Niall Hunt
Salers winner Niall Hunt with Templeboy Talia.
The Irish Salers Cattle Society also chose to present the award to the best promoter. Their choice was Sligo breeder Niall Hunt for his work at promoting the breed at numerous shows. Last year, he picked up 12 red rosettes and four overall championships for his Templeboy herd. Top of this was claiming the junior Salers championship at Tullamore Show with the November 2018-born Templeboy Talia. Packed with breeding, Talia’s mother is out of the 2018 Salers senior champion and by the sire Beguin.
Charolais - Crossane 4 Niamh
Charolais winner Crossane 4 Niamh. \ Alfie Shaw
Taking the overall Charolais breed championship at Tullamore Show last year was Crossane 4 Niamh. Bred and exhibited by Eoin and Mark McGovern, the brothers secured a number of championships and interbreeds with Niamh over the past two years. The powerful two-year-old daughter of Goldstar Echo is now known by every Charolais breeder in Ireland.
Piedmontese – Rodger O’Halloran
The Irish Piedmontese Cattle Society selected a breed promotor as their nomination. For his work at shows, events and on council, they chose Rodger O’Halloran to receive the award. One of Rodger’s highlights with the breed include securing supreme champion at Tullamore Show with an imported Italian heifer called Zorba.
IHFA – Lisnalty Megasire Ritual
IHFA winner Lisnalty Megasire Ritual.
The IHFA selected the cow Lisnalty Megasire Ritual as its recipient. This second-calver was bred and exhibited by the Hannon family from Co Limerick. Along with claiming the overall championship at the National Dairy Show in Millstreet, she went north six weeks later and claimed the interbreed championship at the RUAS winter fair in Balmoral. This super cow is classified at the maximum EX90 for a second calver. She comes from 13 generations of EX-classified breeders and gave 11,600kg in her first lactation of which nearly 1,000kg were solids.
The Pedigree Breeders Association of Ireland (PBAI) hosted the inaugural all-star pedigree awards in Portlaoise last weekend. There was terrific feedback received from the 14 cattle societies involved, with award recipients delighted to be acknowledged for their work.
Each of the societies got to choose their own recipient and while many chose the overall champion at their national finals, some went down the route of choosing based on index or even lifelong work around the breed.
Belgian Blue – Don Moriah
Belgian Blue winner Don Moriah.
This super young Blue heifer was bred and exhibited by Daniel O’Donovan, Dunmanway, Co Cork. Along with claiming the overall championship at Tullamore Show, she travelled 2,250 miles in pursuit of perfection, picking up 11 overall championships on her way. Sired by Imperial, she is out of an Empire-bred dam.
Aubrac – Ballintra Eve 1
Aubrac winner Ballintra Eve 1.
The Aubrac cattle society rewarded Ballintra Eve 1 for her replacement index of €234. Owned by Francis and Jennifer Donohoe, Eve’s pedigree consists of some of Europe’s top Aubrac bloodlines. In her nine years on the Johnstown farm, Eve has bred eight calves, calving within 365 days for the past six years.
Hereford – Grianan Prim T
Hereford winner Grianan Prim T854.\MacGregor photography
Taking the overall national Hereford title at Tullamore Show in 2019 was the young heifer Grianan Prim T. This 12-month-old heifer was bred by the Fitzgerald family, but was purchased six weeks prior to the show by Sarah Murray and she brought it to championship success. Sired by Grianan Parker, Prim was brought to four shows this summer, claiming either champion or reserve titles at each.
Blonde – Jim Carey
The Blonde D’Aquitaine society chose to acknowledge Jim Carey of Johnstown Blondes. Jim was one of the first breeders to use Blondes in 1975. The herd had 40 cows at its peak. One of the biggest accolades received by the herd was winning the RDS Show in 1983. Jim is a devoted council member, having served 18 years and chaired it on two occasions.
Simmental – Clonagh Jubilant Fabulous
Simmental winner Clonagh Jubilant Fabulous. \ Alfie Shaw
Taking the Simmental national championship at Tullamore Show was Clonagh Jubilant Fabulous from Garrett and Lyndsey Behan, Ballyfin, Portlaoise. This heifer was later offered at the society’s premier autumn sale, where she set a new female sale price record of €18,000. This Kilbride Farm Dragoon-sired heifer is out of a Banwy T-Rex-sired dam. The Behan outfit topped all the major sections at Tullamore Show, with 2019 being the eighth year out of 10 that they took home the overall championship.
Aberdeen Angus - Mogeely
Dreamer
Aberdeen Angus winner Mogeely Dreamer T534.
Taking the overall championship at the Irish Aberdeen Angus all-Ireland finals in Dualla was Mogeely Dreamer from John and Sean McEnroe, Oldcastle, Co Meath. John and Sean run the Liss herd, which was established in the 1950s. This all-Ireland win marked the fourth time the herd has won the title, the last time 21 years ago. This bull is sired by Wedderlie Blackbox, a bull who also won the overall title three years ago in Trim. Dreamer, originally bred by Albert and Jennifer DeCogan, was purchased by McEnroe at the Irish Aberdeen Angus Association premier sale in Carrick-on-Shannon last November.
Limousin – Rhyne Noah
Limousin winner Rhyne Noah. \ Alfie Shaw
The Limousin cattle society hosted the inaugural champion of champions competition last year. The overall winner of this was announced at Trim Show and was won by Longford man Mark Hagan with Rhyne Noah. This bull was also senior champion at the society’s autumn premier sale in Roscrea, where he later sold for the top price of €8,000. Sired by Dovea AI bull Wilodge Joskins, the April 2018-born bull is out of a Festin-bred cow.
Shorthorn - Portshan Blueway
Shorthorn winner Portshan Blueway.
Portshan Blueway, owned by Noel and Lisa Dowd from the Creaga herd in Creggs, Co Galway, is this year’s Irish Shorthorn Society best-in-breed recipient. Blueway is sired by Rockville Clohessy Dice and was purchased by the Dowd family at just nine months old. 2019 was a tremendous year for this senior heifer, as she secured the all-Ireland senior Shorthorn heifer championship, as well as the Irish Shows Association reserve interbreed all-Ireland suckler-type heifer championship in Claremorris. The Creaga herd also claimed the top spot in the show teams challenge championship in the same year.
Irish Angus – Mayo R Magic
Irish Angus winner Mayo R Magic.
The Irish Angus society nominated Gerry Kilgallan for his all-Ireland champion Mayo R Magic. This stylish young bull is a son of Bohey Jasper, while the dam goes back to Newpark Hugo and Nakkeg Nord. This result follows the successful outing by Kilgallon at the 2018 Strokestown Show, where he took the overall championship with his senior cow Mayo Karin. This same cow also took the senior female championship at last year’s show, along with winning the senior championship at Tullamore Show.
Parthenaise – Liam Fitzgerald
One of Parthenaise winner Liam Fitzgerald’s champion cows.
The Irish Parthenaise Cattle Society nominated Liam Fitzgerald, Liscarrol, Co Cork, for his work at promoting the breed. Liam attends nearly every show the Parthenaise breed has classes at and won the championship at his local Charleville Show and Tullamore Show on numerous occasions. One of his stand-out cows Altamira Brenda has produced 12 offspring, with 10 of them securing red rosettes. Her natural offspring can be found in Northern Ireland, UK and Czech Republic, as well as embryo calves calving down at the moment in Australia.
Salers - Niall Hunt
Salers winner Niall Hunt with Templeboy Talia.
The Irish Salers Cattle Society also chose to present the award to the best promoter. Their choice was Sligo breeder Niall Hunt for his work at promoting the breed at numerous shows. Last year, he picked up 12 red rosettes and four overall championships for his Templeboy herd. Top of this was claiming the junior Salers championship at Tullamore Show with the November 2018-born Templeboy Talia. Packed with breeding, Talia’s mother is out of the 2018 Salers senior champion and by the sire Beguin.
Charolais - Crossane 4 Niamh
Charolais winner Crossane 4 Niamh. \ Alfie Shaw
Taking the overall Charolais breed championship at Tullamore Show last year was Crossane 4 Niamh. Bred and exhibited by Eoin and Mark McGovern, the brothers secured a number of championships and interbreeds with Niamh over the past two years. The powerful two-year-old daughter of Goldstar Echo is now known by every Charolais breeder in Ireland.
Piedmontese – Rodger O’Halloran
The Irish Piedmontese Cattle Society selected a breed promotor as their nomination. For his work at shows, events and on council, they chose Rodger O’Halloran to receive the award. One of Rodger’s highlights with the breed include securing supreme champion at Tullamore Show with an imported Italian heifer called Zorba.
IHFA – Lisnalty Megasire Ritual
IHFA winner Lisnalty Megasire Ritual.
The IHFA selected the cow Lisnalty Megasire Ritual as its recipient. This second-calver was bred and exhibited by the Hannon family from Co Limerick. Along with claiming the overall championship at the National Dairy Show in Millstreet, she went north six weeks later and claimed the interbreed championship at the RUAS winter fair in Balmoral. This super cow is classified at the maximum EX90 for a second calver. She comes from 13 generations of EX-classified breeders and gave 11,600kg in her first lactation of which nearly 1,000kg were solids.
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