The Connemara/Mayo Blackface Breeders Group's annual two-day sale delivered a strong overall trade, with excellent support from both breeders and purchasers and significant demand for quality breeding stock.

Sunday’s ram sale saw an impressive 568 rams forward, comprising aged rams, ram hoggets and ram lambs. The sale saw a clearance rate of approximately 65%.

The sale topped at €3,750 for a ram hogget owned by Jack Joyce, Maamtrasna, and purchased by Stephen Grealis, Ballycroy.

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The top price for an aged ram was €1,950, paid for a ram owned by Michael Conway, while the leading price for a ram lamb was €880, achieved by Dean Kerrigan, Bohaun, Cloughbrack.

The ram show was judged by Michael Joe McGing, Cailin Conneely and Kenneth McGing.

Ram show results

Ram lambs:

  • First: Dean Kerrigan – €420.
  • Second: Padraig Kerrigan – €500.
  • Third: Padraig Joyce – €500.

    • Ram hoggets:

  • First: Sean Halloran – €2,000.
  • Second: John Murray – €2,900.
  • Third: Padraig Joyce – €1,000.

    • Aged rams:

  • First: Sarah O’Boyle – €820.
  • Second: Kevin Moran – €780.
  • Third: Fintan Joyce – €640.

    • The overall ram sale champion was an aged ram exhibited by Sarah O’Boyle.

    Speaking after the two-day event, Brendan Joyce from the Connemara/Mayo Blackface Breeders Group said: “We would like to sincerely thank all our breeders, buyers and supporters for making the two-day sale such a success.

    “The continued support of the Blackface sheep industry in the west is greatly appreciated.”