Summer Show Stars 2024
What a year 2024 has been for Charolais at summer shows with some of the countries finest standing proudly as Breed Champion and Interbreed Champions all across the island of Ireland.
If you wish to have your champion included in our summer shows section, please email your photo, along with the show and animal details and what they won to info@charolais.ie
Congratulations to all exhibitors!
60th Anniversary National Calf Show Results
Charolais friends from near and far gathered at the showgrounds in Carrick on Shannon on Saturday 21st September for the 60th Anniversary National Calf Show. With just shy of 100 cattle catalogued from all corners of the country taking to the show rings, it was a super display of some of the finest Charolais calves in the country to mark 60 years since the breed was first introduced into Ireland.
At the helm of what was always going to be a difficult task were our two UK judges, Mr Steven Nesbitt of the Alwent Charolais herd who took on the task of judging the bull calves and Tom Gatherer of the Barnsford herd who had the challenge of judging the heifer calves. Two well-known and well-established breeders who continue to leave a huge stamp on the Charolais breed both in Ireland, the UK and further afield.
Young Breeders
Kicking off proceedings were the Young Breeders classes which saw Sligo native Daniel O’Connor continue his National winning ways when Nesbitt tapped him forward as the Senior Handler Champion whist in the Junior class, first time Charolais exhibitor Ava Hallinan, also from Co Sligo took the plaudits.
Male Championships
After a long day of judging a number of hotly contested classes, Steven Nesbitt took the show ring for the final time to select his Junior, Intermediate and Senior Calf Champions for 2024.
Junior Male Calf Champion
Kicking off with the Junior Championship, it was Shane Maguire who found himself taking the plaudits with Dundoire Victorious. The February 2024 born calf is a son of Grangwood Royal Oak and Aquanchoua Poppy (ET) and topped off the showing season where he began- as a champion!
The next title on offer was the Reserve Junior Male Championship, and this time Nesbitt found his reserve champion in second prize winner Lahinch Vincent from the herd of Oliver Connolly. Vincent, a January born son of Leopard and Lahinch Roisin stood as a very close second to Victorious earlier in the day before claiming the Reserve Junior Championship.
Intermediate Male Calf Champion
In another hotly contested championship, Limerick breeders Jerry and Kay O’Keeffe found themselves claiming the Intermediate Male Calf Championship with their November 2023 born bull, Gragwood Ugo (ET). Sired by Goldies Icon, this stylish young bull was bred from the renowned Grangwood Jolly Holly.
Reserve Champion in the Intermediate section saw Shane Tully step up to take the plaudits with his December 2023 born bull, MacMelvin Unique. Unique is a son of Lapon and MacMelvin Sinead who herself is a daughter of Drumcullen JJ.
Senior Male Calf Champion
Concluding the male section for the day was the Senior Male Championship which saw Co Westmeath breeder James Geoghegan take home the double. Nesbitt found his Senior Male Champion in Lisnagre Unknown (ET), a September born son of Doonally New (CF52) and Lisnagre Mindy 2, a daughter of Jupiter.
In Reserve stood Unknown’s stable mate, second prize winner, Lisnagre Uno (ET). Uno, a Horace JD-cross Lisnagre Pio bull stood proud as the Reserve senior Champion coming off the back of winning Supreme Champion at the National Livestock Show in Tullamore in August. A super achievement for the Lisnagre herd.
Leading Ladies
In the female section, it was a tough day’s judging for Scottish judge Tom Gatherer who had a hugely impressive line up of females throughout the day.
Junior Female Calf Championship
Starting with the youngest stars of the show, Tom found his Junior Female Calf Champion in Crossane4 Victorious (ET) who found victory for the McGovern Family from Co Sligo. The January 2024 born heifer is a daughter of Goldstar Echo out of a Portnason Hermione dam.
David Magee’s Corney Valentines was next to take the plaudits when she was tapped forward as the Reserve Junior Female Calf Champion. The February 2024 born heifer is a Corbaun Rory and Corney Maura daughter going back to Heracles.
Intermediate Female Calf Champion
The Intermediate Female Championship saw a super line up of consistent summer show winners battle it out for the top spot where unfortunately, there could only be one winner.
This time, it was Dermot and Sarah O’Dowd’s to step up and take the plaudits with their October 2023 born Magicien and Goodmoove Sasha heifer- Beachview U Beauty (ET). U-Beauty had already enjoyed a hugely successful summer show season which was topped off on Saturday with this National title.
Standing very closely in Reserve was another highly acclaimed heifer, this time from Sligo breeders, Brendan and Niall Canning. Their November 2023 born heifer, Sagesse Unita (ET) is a daughter of CF52 and Sagesse Henrietta.
Senior Female Calf Champion
Concluding the days proceedings was the highly anticipated Senior Female Calf Championship. Tom Gatherer found his final champion of the day in Shane Cassidy’s Clonscott12 Unique (ET). This September 2023 born heifer is a daughter of Corrie Alan and Sagesse Martha going back to Adonis.
Finally, the last sash of the day was awarded to Michael Hanlon for his Reserve Senior Female Champion, Ballinroey Ulrika (ET). This September born heifer was sired by Society bull Magicien and was bred from a Taxan-Gie dam, Ballinroey Rosanna.
The Irish Charolais Cattle Society would like to extend their congratulations to all exhibitors who turned out calves for our National Calf Show. To our generous sponsor, Greenvale Animal Feeds without whom our National Calf Show would not be possible, thank you. To our fantastic judges, Steven Nesbitt and Tom Gatherer who kindly travelled from England and Scotland to officiate on the day, thank you. To the Midland and Western Livestock Improvement Society who provided us with super facilities for our calf show and to Reynolds Catering for the delicious food on the day, thank you. To all of you who travelled from near and far to make our 60th Anniversary celebrations so special- thank you!
Cheer's to the 60 before and 60 more!
Full results to follow soon
Charolais at 60
The History of how Charolais came to Ireland
(1964 - 1973)
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
As we celebrate “Charolais at 60”, it’s hard to believe that it’s been 60 years since the first Charolais were introduced into Ireland. The breed has grown rapidly over that time, where Charolais fast became the No. 1 beef breed in Ireland and indeed Europe’s Number 1’s beef breed during that period.
In the early 70’s the Society was registering just under 250 cattle that year. Over the following years, that number rose to just under 12,000 at its peak in 2011. And whilst current challenges exist in farming and within the suckler herd and will do into the near future, I would like to acknowledge all of our members who invest their time and of course money into the Charolais breed. The quality of animals at summer shows, our National Show and of course at Shows and Sales is very impressive. The standard of cattle on display at our National Show last August were of the highest quality, impressing all who attended. It was a day to be proud.
I am very honoured to be President of our Society and I would like to take the opportunity to thank you all for supporting the Charolais breed.
Aiden MacHale,
ICCS President.
1964
In 1964 three men from the Irish Department of Agriculture imported the first Charolais which consisted of 8 bulls and 12 heifers of four to five months of age (at eight to nine months, all French cattle were vaccinated for foot-and-mouth disease, rendering them ineligible for entry into Ireland).
At the time Ireland cherished its disease-free island status, which included a ban on all cattle imports, except under a strict quarantine regime. Then followed quarantine on the farm of origin, quarantine in France and then more months of quarantine on Spike Island in Co. Cork, eventually being able to be transferred to the Department of Agriculture’s farm and veterinary centre in Thorndale in Dublin (now Abbottstown).
1965
In 1965 the second importations of four bulls and forty-two heifers were imported by a group of private breeders, one of whom as the then US ambassador to Ireland, Mr. Raymond Guest, who was purchasing stock for his farm in Kentucky; Paddy McGrath from Waterford Glass who had a farm in Co. Meath; the Hon Alan Lillingstone of Mount Coote Stud, Kilmallock; Major Laurie Gardiner and John Mooney from Co. Meath. Mr. Mooney who would go on to become the first President of the Irish Charolais Cattle Society.
The Irish Charolais Cattle Society was established in the form of a co-operative in 1965 and the Irish Charolais herd book was set up.
Click on link to see article - Farming has its fashions and the new name is CHAROLAIS
The first animal registered, and who received the prestigious Herd Book Number 1 title was Shamrock (imp 64F) Vagabond - Born 9th February 1964
Original pedigree cert. (Click on link below to see cert)
Original certificate for first animal registered in the Society
Also registered at this time and taking the Herd Book Number 19 was Shamrock Ambassadeur (AI Code CF12) who went on be in the ancestry of very many Irish breeders’ herds.
Original pedigree cert. (Click on link below to see cert)
Original certificate for Shamrock Ambassadeur CF12
Shamrock Ambassadeur’s first Irish born calf was registered on 21st July 1967, a bull calf called Shamrock Boxer and the last calf to be registered that he sired (as of today) was born 11th January 2024. What an amazing achievement.
When he was first imported into Ireland the Department of Agriculture rejected an offer of £100,000 from the US.
1966
The first pedigree Charolais calf born in Ireland was on the 16th May 1966. Her name was Shamrock Angelica and she was owned by the Department of Agriculture.
Her sire was the imported bull Violon and she was out of female named Shamrock Venise who was born 19th January 1964.
Angelica’s registered herd book number was 63. Four more Charolais calves would be born and registered in 1964, all being female.
Original pedigree cert. (Click on link below to see cert)
Original certificate for Shamrock Angelica first calf born in ireland
Copy of original copy of pedigree cert. (Click on link below to see a clearer copy)
Original certificate for Shamrock Violon - Sire of Angelica
Copy of original copy of pedigree cert. (Click on link below to see a clearer copy)
Original certificate for Shamrock Venise - Dam of Angelica
1969
The first public auction was held on 28th July 1969 in Maynooth Mart, at which a bull sold for 1,100gns.
Click on link to see copy - First Charolais Sale - 1969
1973
The Irish Charolais Cattle Society had the privilege of hosting the 10th World Charolais Convention from 30th August to 5th September. At that time the Society had 64 members and pedigree registrations were approx. 240 for that year.
The Convention was a great success with over 160 foreign delegates in attendance, some travelling as far away as Japan, Canada and Australia.
An auction sale was held for 46 full French Charolais, held in conjunction with the Congress. The 46 animals sold for a total amount of £118,000.00. Heifers averaged 3,435gns and the bulls averaged 1,588gns.
Click on link to see copy - First published newsletter - 1973
Biggest sale of Charolais - 1973 - Irish Farmers Journal Article 08.09.1973
Click on link to see copy - Biggest Sale of Charolais 1973
Charolais Breed now Represents over 5% of Total Cattle Stock - Irish Farmers Journal Article 01.09.1973
Click on link to see copy - Charolais Breed represents over 5% of Stock - Article in Irish Farmers Journal 01.09.1973
Big Prices in Maynooth - Irish Farmers Journal 08.12.1973
Click on link to see copy - Big prices in Maynooth - December 1973 - Irish Farmers Journal Article 08.12.1973