A spectacular day of Charolais breeding, showing and record prices in Carrick on Shannon
What a day it was in Carrick on Shannon on Saturday for the 2026 National Calf Show & Sale and Elite Heifer Show & Sale! With a huge attendance and visitors travelling from across Europe, Scotland and England, the atmosphere was electric, with great conversations, friendly competition and a shared passion for Charolais cattle.
The event proved to be a tremendous success, showcasing the outstanding quality of Charolais breeding in Ireland, with an exceptional display of young cattle in the show ring and a lively sales ring that attracted considerable interest from buyers at home and abroad.
Elite Heifer Show & Sale
The Elite Heifer Sale achieved an outstanding 100% clearance, with a top price of €11,000, highlighting the strong demand for quality breeding stock.
Grangwood Vanity Fair
Leading the way was Grangwood Vanity Fair ET, the first-prize winner, who sold for €11,000. Bred by Jerry & Kay O’Keefe, she was sired by Ocean, and out of the renowned breeding cow Grangwood Jolly Holly, who has bred numerous champions. Vanity Fair continued her successful show season following her first prize success at the National Show in Tullamore.
The next highest price went to Limkiln Veel 2 for Richard Hackett who sold for €8,200. Sired by Magicien and out of an Enfield Plexus dam, this heifer carried one copy of the Q204X gene and attracted huge interest in the sales ring.
Another highlight was Michael McKiernan’s Elite Heifer Champion Gallaway Aoishe, a super-stylish heifer sired by Magicien and out of a Fiston dam. She attracted considerable attention in both the show and sales rings and sold for €7,500.
Gallaway Aoishe
The next leading price was €6,800 for Sean O’Connor’s Knockmoyle Loki bred heifer Urlanbeg Victoria, all the way from Newmarket on Fergus, Co. Clare. The trip to Carrick on Shannon proved worthwhile for Sean, whose super heifer carried a single copy of the F94L gene.
Michael Oates’ Reserve Champion Yambo Adau, followed at €6,200. Sired by Cloonradoon Ricky and out of a Pottlereagh Mark dam, she carried one copy of the Q204X gene.
Yambo Adau
Other leading prices included:
* €4,800 for Mashantucket Vanille, bred by Adam Woods, Co. Cavan, and sired by Cloonradoon Ricky.
* €4,800 for Sheafield Aravon, presented by Sean Moreton, Co. Leitrim, sired by Cavelands Fenian and out of a Goldstar Ludwig cow.
National Calf Show & Sale
The National Calf Show & Sale produced some exceptional prices, with the top call of the day reaching €17,000 for a standout young heifer.
The top-priced animal was Tubbernadur Aurora ET, presented by Kieran Doddy, Co. Sligo. Born in October 2025, this stylish young heifer generated huge interest throughout the day after being crowned Intermediate Heifer Calf Champion earlier in the show. Sired by Jacquard and out of a Heracles dam, Aurora carried no myostatin genes and sold to a leading herd in Northern Ireland.
Tubbernadur Aurora Et
The next highest price went to Cleavy A1, presented by Paudge Maguire. This October born heifer has been a sensation on the show circuit this summer, claiming championships throughout Ireland. She was Reserve Intermediate Champion on the day. Sired by Pottlereagh Mark and out of a Clonoulty Adreamon cow, she carried a single copy of the Q204X gene and sold to a leading herd in Northern Ireland.
Cleavy A1
The Tubbernadur herd was back in the spotlight with its second entry, Tubbernadur Beyoncé ET, which sold for €12,600 to a new County Westmeath breeder. Another stylish young heifer and a popular performer at shows throughout the summer, Beyoncé was Reserve Junior Female Calf Champion at the National Show in Tullamore in August. Sired by Doonally New and out of a Goldstar Hugo dam, she carried one copy each of the Q204X and F94L genes. It was a fantastic day for the Tubbernadur herd, with Kieran’s two entries bringing just under €30,000.
Tubbernadur Beyonce ET
Next up was Larahill Alexander ET, presented by John O’Connor, Co. Westmeath, who sold for €9,600 to a leading herd in Northern Ireland. This super-young Doonally New bull attracted huge interest. His dam is the famous Ballydownan Maggie, by Ballymyle Vagabond, who also bred last year’s top priced sale animal, Larahill Violet. Violet went to the Alfords in England and enjoyed a hugely successful show season, winning all the major shows in the UK this summer. Alexander carried one copy each of the F94L and Q204X genes.
Larahill Alexander ET
The Tawny herd, owned by Ciaran Daly in North Leitrim, enjoyed a great result with his first prize winning Neptune heifer Tawny Aristo Belle, which sold for €9,000. Out of a Sportsmans Columbo dam, this super young heifer attracted strong interest and sold to a leading herd in Northern Ireland. She carried one copy of the F94L gene.
Tawny Aristo Belle
Daniel Spaight’s sole entry was next, selling for €8,800 to a leading herd in Northern Ireland. This stylish April 2026-born heifer Villanova Belle, sired by the famous Major and out of a Carrickbrack Hutch dam, was Reserve Junior Female Calf Champion on the day. She was also a multiple prize-winner on the Irish show circuit this summer and attracted massive interest at the sale.
Villanova Belle
Michael Oates powerful young heifer Yambo Adorable followed at €8,400. Sired by Michael’s stock bull Yambo Adorable, by Pottlereagh Mark, and out of a Sportsmans Neptune dam, she generated considerable interest before selling to Co. Cavan.
The Canning family of the Sagesse herd, Co. Sligo, also enjoyed a strong result with Sagesse Aine ET, a September-born third-prize-winning heifer sired by Corrie Alan. She attracted huge interest and sold for €8,200 to Northern Ireland. She carried a single copy of the Q204X gene.
Sagesse Aine ET
The Lisnagre herd was next into the spotlight, with Jim Geoghegan’s Lisnagre Amara ET selling for €7,800 to Northern Ireland. Sired by society bull Horace JD and out of a Pirate dam, she attracted huge interest and was a double carrier of the F94L gene.
The Fieldview herd, represented by David Erskine, also enjoyed a successful sale with a super-young Reglisse bull Fieldview Andy 2 selling to a leading suckler herd in Co. Meath for €7,000. Out of a Magicien cow, he carried one copy of each of the two genes.
Other Leading prices
€6,800 for Lisnagre Anna Et, sired by Horace JD.
€6,400 for Lisnagre Aggie Et, sired by Neptune.
€6,400 for Grangewood Annie, sired by Lapon.
€6,200 for Corney Addie, sired by Noble Prince.
€6,200 for Dreamteam Bessy, sired by Magician.
€6,000 for Dreamteam Amelia et, sired by Barnsford ferny.
Shacon Adorable Reigns Supreme in the Show Ring.
Shacon Adorable- Senior Female Calf Champion & Overall Champion of the show.
The show ring provided plenty of excitement, with Shacon Adorable, owned by Shane Conlon, claiming the prestigious Christy Comerford Memorial Cup and the Overall Show Champion title. It was a fantastic day for Shane and the Shacon herd. Adorable first won a very strong September heifer class before going on to claim Senior Female Champion and ultimately the Overall Championship. Her success was a fitting reward for a tremendous show season, and congratulations go to Shane on an outstanding achievement with this exceptional heifer.
The standard of cattle throughout both show rings was superb, with strong competition across the classes and plenty of quality on display. A Huge Thank You to Everyone Involved.
Western Apollo-Senior Male Calf Champion (Kindly Sponsored by Aurivo)
Fieldview Adrian-Reserve Senior Male calf Champion (Kindly Sponsored by Aurivo)
Whinfort Alfie-Intermediate Male calf champion
Larahill Alexander-Reserve Intermediate male Calf Champion
Dereskit boss man 1269-Junior Male calf Champion.
Tullaghan Bailey-Reserve Junior Male calf Champion
Tubbernadur Aurora-Intermediate Female Calf Champion
Cleavy A1-Reserve Intermediate Female calf Champion.
Goldstar Blossom-Junior Female calf Champion
Villanova Belle-Reserve Junior Female Calf Champion
Shacon Adorable Et- Senior Female Calf Champion
Goldstar Avocado Et-Reserve Senior Female Calf Champion.
Emlycass Alice Et -Winner of class 14 (kindly Sponsored by Greenvale Animal feeds)
Western Apollo Et-Winner of class 5 (Kindly Sponsored by Aurivo)
Tawny Agri-King Et -Winner of class 3 (kindly Sponsored by Aurivo)
Tawny Aristo-Belle – Winner of class 12 (Kindly Sponsored by The Farming Independent)
Ballylannon Ally Et-Winner of class 5A (Kindly Sponsored by Aurivo)
Whinfort Alfie- Winner of class 6 (Kindly Sponsored by Greenvale Animal Feeds)
Liscally Ace Et-Winner of class 7 (Kindly Sponsored by Bullbank)
Larahill Alpha Jax- Winner of class 8 (Kindly Sponsored by Mullinahone Co-op)
Dereskit Boss Man 1269-Winner of class 9 (kindly Sponsored by Orlden Herbal Products)
Heartly Brad Pitt- Winner of class 10 (kindly Sponsored by Kiernan Milllings)
Garracloon Bestie- Winner of class 11 (kindly Sponsored by Greenvale Animal feeds)
Shacon Adorable Et-Winner of class 14A (kindly Sponsored by Vet Embryos)
Tubbernadur Aurora Et-Winner of class 15 (Kindly Sponsored by Greenvale Animal Feeds)
Dreamteam Amelia Et- Winner of class 16 (kindly sponsored by Eurogene)
Breaghwyhill Beauty Et-Winner of class 18 (Kindly Sponsored by Smyths Daleside Feeds)
Dreamteam Bessy-Winner of class 19 (Kindly Sponsored by Aidan MacHale Scanning Services)
Goldstar Blossom-Winner of class 20 (kindly Sponsored by Farming Independant)
Inismurray Herd – Winner of Class 21 ( Kindly sponsored by Aidan MacHale Scanning Services)
Our Kind Sponsors on the day.
Full list of results here – NATIONAL CALF SHOW RESULTS 2026
An event of this scale would not be possible without the dedication and support of so many people, and the Charolais Society would like to extend a sincere thank you to everyone who helped make the day such a success.
A special word of thanks goes to our stewards, whose hard work and commitment kept everything running smoothly throughout the day.
Our two judges from Wales, Will Owens and Kevin Thomas, did a fantastic job in the show ring, while Murray Lyle from Scotland and Khloe Kingham did an excellent job judging the young handlers.
Thanks also to Darragh Walsh for his brilliant commentary across both show rings, to Agrilens Photography and Tricia Kennedy for their fantastic photography and video coverage, and to our auctioneers, Tom Cox and Rodney Windrum, for doing a superb job in the sales ring.
We are also extremely grateful to all our sponsors for their continued support and generosity. Your contribution is greatly appreciated and plays a vital role in the success of our events.
Finally, a huge thank you to all the exhibitors, breeders, visitors and, of course, our buyers. The fantastic attendance, atmosphere and level of interest made this a truly memorable occasion for the Charolais breed.
To all our successful purchasers, we wish you the very best of luck with your purchases and every success with them in the future.
What a super day for Irish Charolais breeding, and a wonderful celebration of the people, passion and quality that make our breed so special!