The Irish Rouge de l’Ouest Sheep Society’s annual premier sale was held at GVM Tullamore Mart on Friday 28 August.

Eoghan O’Neill from Northern Ireland took on the task of judging the pre-sale show.

Oliver and Claire Keaskin from Co Cavan had a memorable day with their Seeorum flock, being awarded champion of both the male and the female sections and then later went on to take top price of both sections.

ADVERTISEMENT

Overall champion of the pre-sale show was Seeorum Sarah, a shearling ewe sired by Oldwood Alfred. Topping the females, she went on to realise €980, selling to Eoin Coogan, Co Wicklow.

Topping the males was the Keaskins' ram lamb Seeorum T-Rex.

Sired by Tullyvallen Maestro, he also stood reserve overall champion and male champion of the pre-sale show and then went on to reach €1,500, the top price on the night.

Thomas Glynn, Co Galway, purchased him for his commercial flock.

Seamus Leahy’s shearling ram Ballyquirke Shain took the reserve male champion spot in the pre-sale show.

Sired by Glengalliagh Wam Bam, Ballyquirke Shain sold for the top shearling price of the evening, realising €650, and is heading to Co Mayo with fellow breeder Tom Feehan.

Reserve overall female

Reserve overall female was Clive Rothwell’s ewe lamb Ballypeirce Tina Turner. Sired by Tullyvallen Maestro, she sold to breeder Peter Mannion, Co Galway, and reached the top ewe lamb price on the night of €530.

Other notable male prices included Drumhirk Tyson from Malcolm and Hilary Workman, which reached €700, selling to breeder Stephen Killeen from Co Mayo.

Weekfield Tot realised €680 for Joseph Kennedy. He sold to breeders Patrick and Megan Rooney, Co Leitrim.

The female section saw a very strong trade throughout, with Edwin Draper’s Kyleen Shakira selling to John Healion, Co Westmeath, for €920 and Seeorum Silver, another entry from the Keaskins, selling for €900 to Eoin Coogan, Co Westmeath.

The Irish Rouge de l'Ouest Sheep Society would like to express thanks to GVM Tullamore Mart, inspector Declan Miley, judge Eoghan O'Neill, sponsors Connolly’s Red Mills Agri Feed and photographers Sean McCarthy and Lucy Fletcher.