The Champion stays local at the Belclare Premier sale in Kilkenny.
The prestigious Belclare Sheep Society hosted its premier sale at Cillin Hill, Kilkenny, on
Tuesday, August 8th. Local Kilkenny breeder Frank Campion of the Luskenagh Flock
experienced a moment of triumph when his sheep was awarded Supreme Champion by Judge Eddie O’Gorman. The event saw strong sales, with 20% of rams selling for €1,000 per head or more.
The first class judged by the experienced Eddie O’Gorman was the Senior Ram class. The top honor was awarded to the Ballydavis flock of David Cooke for their ram, originally bred by
the Coolgarragh Flock of Liam Delaney. Laurence Barrett of the Kilmeany Flock claimed
second prize.
The competitive hogget ram class followed, with the first prize going to Tim Keady's
renowned Oltore Flock from Co. Galway. OLTORE HUGH, a powerful hogget ram,
narrowly claimed first place over a stylish ram bred by the Moatland Flock of Roy Butler,
named MOATLAND HANSEL, owned by Michael Gottstein. Third prize in this large class
went to the Donegal flock of Henry & Lewis Kee, with their ram GLENAFTON HOVEN
showing impressive power in the show ring.
Tim Keady's first prize-winning hogget ram, OLTORE HUGH, fetched €700, while the
highest-priced hogget, OLTORE HURRICANE, commanded an impressive €1,800. This ram
was acquired by esteemed pedigree breeder Frank Campion of the Luskenagh Flock, boasting remarkable €uro-star values, ranking in the top 1% for both replacement and terminal indexes.
An exceptional lineup of ram lambs was presented for Judge Eddie O’Gorman at the 2023
Premier Sale Ram Lamb Show. Selecting a winner from this large class of powerful rams
from flocks across Ireland proved challenging. After careful consideration, the first prize was
awarded to Lot 54, LUSKENAGH JOHANN, from Frank Campion’s flock. This long ram
with exceptional wool proved to be outstanding and also took home the Supreme Champion
title. This stylish ram was sired by KILMEANY GANGER from the flock of Larry Barrett,
who topped the 2021 Premier Sale with a price of €3,100 and also bred last year’s Reserve
Champion, COOLKELLURE HARRY MAGUIRE. The 2023 Belclare Premier Sale
Champion, LUSKENAGH JOHANN, sold for €1,100 and was purchased by pedigree
breeders Liam & Eoin Dunne of the Tubber Belclare Flock in Co. Offaly.
Second prize was awarded to renowned Belclare breeder Michael Gottstein of the
Coolkellure Flock for Lot 97, COOLKELLURE JEFFREY. This powerful, stylish ram was
crowned Reserve Champion by Judge Eddie O’Gorman and sold for €600. Third prize went
to long-standing Belclare breeder Liam Delaney for Lot 21, COOLGARRAGH JODY, who
showed exceptional length and style in the show ring and mirrored this in the sales ring,
selling for €1,000. This son of KILMEANY GREAT had €uro-star values in the top 4% and
top 8% for replacement and terminal indexes, respectively, and was purchased by fellow
Belclare pedigree breeder John Kennedy of the Dranagh Flock, Co. Carlow.
Fourth prize went to John McTigue's flock in Co. Galway for his ram lamb, Lot 90,
BALLYNULTY JOE. This ram showed off his style and had figures to back it up, with €uro-
star values in the top 4% and top 2% for replacement and terminal indexes, respectively. John presented an exceptional pen of rams on the day, selling all nine of his entries, with his top price of €1,700 for Lot 42, BALLYNULTY JOEY, purchased by Paul Smyth from the
Silverbrook Flock in Co. Offaly. Fifth prize was awarded to Barry Cunningham’s Lot 38,
TOGHERBERG JACKO. This powerful ram sold for €1,200, thanks to his style and €uro-
star values in the top 2% and top 1% for replacement and terminal indexes, respectively. This
ram was bred by last year’s Premier Sale Supreme Champion, TOGHERBERG HECTOR,
who was purchased for €2,350. Sixth prize went to Co. Sligo’s Christy, Margaret, and Brian
Gallagher for Lot 36, PULLAGH JUDE. This classy ram sold for €1,000 and had exceptional
figures to match, with €uro-star values in the top 1% (€8.63) and top 1% (€2.76) for
replacement and terminal indexes, respectively.
The top price of the day went to Paul Smyth of the Silverbrook Flock in Co. Offaly for Lot
61, SILVERBROOK JUSTIN. This ram stole the show in the sales ring, capturing the
attention of numerous pedigree breeders, with the hammer dropping at €2,400. This son of
Barry Cunningham’s TOGHERBERG HECTOR proved to be worth every cent, with €uro-
star values in the top 1% (€8.92) and top 1% (€3.26) for replacement and terminal indexes,
respectively. This ram was purchased by fellow Belclare breeder Roy Butler of the Moatland
Flock, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.
The female section concluded the 2023 Belclare Premier Sale, featuring a selection of top-
quality females from across the country. First prize was awarded to Lot 108, bred by Liam
Delaney, which sold for €600 and found its new home in the pedigree flock of Adam
Stephenson in Co. Wicklow. Tim Keady's Oltore Flock, Lot 105, secured second prize,
selling for €400 to another pedigree breeder, Arthur O’Riordan. Once again, third prize was
awarded to Lot 104 from Liam Delaney, fetching €600 and joining Adam Stephenson's
pedigree flock in Co. Wicklow.