The Irish Charolais Cattle Society Club of the Year Award for 2025 was presented to the North Eastern Club at the Society’s Annual General Meeting yesterday.
2025 was an exceptional year for the Club, which started with their Rising Stars of the Future Show on the 11th of May in Ballyjamesduff Mart. The judge on the day, Mr. Sean McGovern tapped out Noble Valhalla was the Overall Champion of the event and this year commercial classes were introduced that highlighted the importance and quality Charolais can bring to commercial showing.
The Commercial Champion was called Biscuit, xhibited by Niall & Simone Maguire and sired by Ashleigh Admiral. Second to her was Fergal McDermotts heifer calf sired by Cloonradoon Ricky (CH7503) who also had a successful show season and went on to sell for the top priced Charolais heifer at the Carrick Winter Fair for €11,000. Clonmahon Vadim was also another notable bull who was very successful on the show scene with him picking up numerous championships over the summer including the Overall Champion at the National Charolais Show in Tullamore and the Senior Championship at the National Calf Show. Vadim was also rewarded with the ICCS Pedigree All Star Award following his show successes.
In August the Club ran its annual Club Calf Championships at Virginia Show which went very well and had a good turnout. The Overall Champion was Rockvalley Vigour, bred by Niall and Simone McCabe who also secured the Reserve Interbreed Champion at the show and the Reserve Champion title went to Mashantucket Aurora bred by William and Andrew Woods.
In November the club held an information evening for members where Darragh Healy talked about the products available from Natural Nutrition. Niall Maguire from Country Crest talked about how Charolais heifers were performing in the feed lot, their kill out percentages weights and grades and David Erskine, ICCS Vice-President gave a talk on the AI sires available from the Society and the introduction of new sires in Spring 2026.
In mid December the club held its Chrsitmas Dinner in Lisgrey House were the chairman presented the plaques to all the first prize winners and Champions from their events during the year.
Society President Aiden MacHale presented members of the Club with their award and thanks them for their hard work over.
(Club members Michael Carey, Martin Hughes, Harry Noble, Society President Aiden MacHale, Club Chairman Wesley Kellett, David Erskine and Brian Fleming)