The annual Sheep Ireland €uroStar multi-breed sale took place the end of August at Tullamore Mart and recorded an 86% clearance. The sale, which attracted breeders from 26 counties, is now in its ninth year and includes a total of eight different breeds for potential customers to choose from.

The Texel breed was out in front, with a top sale price of €1,160. Achieving the top price was a five-star hogget ram bred by the Ryan family in Kildare. Both Texel clearance and average were back on the year, but still recorded a healthy 92% clearance rate, with average price of €579.

Recording the highest breed average was the Suffolk breed, which saw 87% of rams present sell to €597.

Achieving the top price for the breed was well-known Cork breeders Jim and Frampton Jeffrey who sold their ram for €1,050. This son of Logie Durno New Direction also won the inaugural LambPlus multi-breed class in the NSBA championships earlier in the year.

The Charollais breed was next in line, with 86% of the rams forward finding new homes to average at €526. Meath breeder Michael O’Reilly took home the top price in this ring of €1,020. His young ram boasted a top set of indices and was sired by Dalby Ranieri.

The Belclare breed saw a top price of €1,000 for a double five-star ram from Galway breeder Barry Cunningham. Prices for the breed started at €250, with an average sale price of €490, up €50 on the year. This average was matched with a clearance rate of 74%.

There were 13 Vendéen sheep on offer, with prices ranging from €360 to €620. Topping these prices were Brendan and Carmel Rooney from Co Sligo with a ram in the top 1% for days to slaughter. Overall, the breed averaged €442, with an 85% clearance.

Only three Rouge de l’Ouest rams were presented for sale, with just one finding a new home. This ram was from Oliver Keaskin, Co Cavan, and sold for €350.

There was a full clearance of the four Hampshire Downs presented for sale, with prices going from €350 to €500. This was topped by Michael Gottstein, Co Cork, with a five-star terminal ram.

Last of the breeds was the Lleyns, which saw three of the seven lots forward sell. Prices for the breed ranged from €400 to €580, with the top price achieved by Brian Matthews for a double five-star ram.