Click on the cover page below to read articles from the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D., ‘The Origins of the Suffolk’, a trip down memory lane and much much more.
This year’s flock competition was judged by the highly respected Suffolk breeder, Mr Iain Barbour of the Solwaybank Flock, Scotland. As with recent years, the South of Ireland competition was held in conjunction with the Suffolk Sheep Society Flock competition and our Irish members performed well against flocks from N Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.
In the Society competition, S & P O’Connor (Kerry) was awarded the John Long Cup for the best flock of 16-30 ewes and Ronan McLoughlin (Donegal) was presented with the Best Stud Ram trophy for ‘Limestone Aston Martin’. Both Sean and Ronan, along with Garth Graham (Sligo), Gerry Killilea (Galway) and Colin Watchorn (Wicklow) picked up a total of 7 Certificates of Merit for different classes in the Society Competition. In the South of Ireland Competition, Colin Watchorn lifted the overall trophy for best flock in Ireland. Colin (ably supported by the family) hosted an excellent viewing day and presentation on Saturday 10th August.
Overall Champion
Winner: C Watchorn, Co Wicklow (Beechbrook Flock)
Reserve: S&P O’Connor, Co Kerry (Islandmore Flock)
Flock up to 30 Ewes
Winner: S&P O’Connor, Co Kerry (Islandmore Flock)
Reserve: R McLoughlin, Co Donegal (Ballyboe Flock)
Certificate of Merit: P Byrne
Flock Over 30 Ewes
Winner: C Watchorn Co Wicklow (Beechbrook Flock)
Reserve: G Killilea, Co Galway (Carragh Flock)
Certificates of Merit: G Graham, Co Sligo (Kirriemuir Flock)
Ewe Lamb Class
Winner: C Watchorn, Co Wicklow (Beechbrook Flock)
Reserve: G Killilea, Co Galway (Carragh Flock)
Certificates of Merit: S&P O’Connor, G Graham
Flock Ewes Class
Winner: C Watchorn, Co Wicklow (Beechbrook Flock)
Reserve: S&P O’Connor, Co Kerry (Islandmore Flock)
Stock Rams
Winner: “Limestone Aston Martin” (Owner R McLaughin)
Reserve: “Lakeview Lonesome Days” (Owner S&P O’Connor)
Certificate of Merit: “Errigal Jack the Lad” (Owner G Graham)
This year’s flock competition was judged by the highly respected Suffolk breeder, Mr Andrew Wilson , of the Castleisle Flock, Donegal. The South of Ireland competition was held in conjunction with the Suffolk Society Flock competition this year. Eamonn Duffy had a very successful year, winning the overall trophy for best flock in Ireland. This is the second year in a row that Eamonn has lifted the South of Ireland branch trophy, and the Kells Flock also featured strongly in the 2018 Society competition lifting the Brook Perpetual Challenge Cup for the best flock of over 100 ewes, competing against flocks from Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.
Overall Champion
Winner: E Duffy (Kells Flock)
Reserve: S & P O’Connor (Islandmore Flock)
Flock up to 30 Ewes
Winner: S & P O’Connor (Islandmore Flock)
Reserve: J & E Gahan (Barronstown Flock)
Flock Over 30 Ewes
Winner: E Duffy (Kells Flock)
Reserve: S & S Gahan (Barrowlands Flock)
Ewe Lamb Class
Winner: E Duffy (Kells Flock)
Reserve: C Watchorn (Beechbrook Flock)
Flock Ewes Class
Winner: R Mclaughlin (Ballyboe Flock)
Reserve: E Duffy (Kells Flock)
2nd Reserve: P Byrne (Limepark Flock)
Stock Rams
Winner: S & S Gahan “Carragh Captivate”
Reserve: S & V Tiffin “Bawnard the Rebel”
The 1st NSBA Championships was the chosen venue for the South of Ireland Branch of the Suffolk Sheep
Society’s National championships 2018. Blessed with celestial sunshine over 80 of the highest quality
Suffolks were lined out before Judge Iain Barbour from the “Solwaybank” Flock. Some classes boasted
Suffolks from over ten counties. The venue was perfect.
Supreme Champion, Female Champion & 1st prize Shearling Ewe owned by Arthur O’Keeffe
Sired by Shannagh Resolve; her dam by Cairness Galastar. This same ewe was reserve female of the year at the same event as last year.
Reserve Supreme Champion owned by Patrick O’Keeffe (son of Arthur)
This Shearling Ewe also captured Reserve Supreme Champion & Reserve Female Champion 2nd Prize
Shearling Ewe sired by Clyda Dreamcatcher: Dam by Rookery Classic
Male Champion owned by Susan O’Keeffe (president elect of the Suffolk Sheep Society)
Male Champion & First Prize Ram Lamb sired by Muirton One Direction: Dam by Rookery Classic
Reserve Male Champion owned by Seamus Browne sired by Lakeview Heart of Gold: Dam by Rhaeadr Ron.
Female Champion owned by Arthur O’Keeffe sired by Shannagh Resolve: Dam by Cairness Galastar
Reserve female Champion owned by Patrick O’Keeffe sired by Clyda Dreamcatcher: Dam by Rookery Classic
Class Prize winners were as follows-
Class 1 Shearling Ram
1st Philip Lynch Castlebellingham, Co Louth ( Burnview The Duke sired by Birness Murray: Dam by Cairness
Liam)
2nd Sean & Valerie Tiffin Kilgarvin, Co. Kerry
3rd Coote Geelan Carrick on Shannon,
Class 2 Aged Ewe
1st Philip Lynch Castlebellingham, Co. Louth (Sire Burnview Gin &Tonic: Dam by Cairnton the Cracker)
2nd Susan O’Keeffe Mallow, Co. Cork
3rd Kenneth Bailey Tulsk Co. Roscommon.
Class 3 Shearling Ewe
1st Arthur O’Keeffe Mallow, Co. Cork (Sire by Shannagh Resolve: Dam by Cairness Galastar)
2nd Patrick O’Keeffe Mallow, Co. Cork
3rd Susan O’Keeffe Mallow, Co. Cork
Class 4 Novice Ram Lamb
1st John Stacey Bunclody, Co. Wexford (Sire by Strathbogie Dynamite: Dam by Rhaeadr Johnny)
2nd Garth Graham Ballygawley, Co. Sligo
3rd David Quinlan Gowran, Co. Kilkenny
Class 5 Open Ram Class
1st Susan O’Keeffe Mallow, Co. Cork (Sire by Muirton One Direction: Dam by Rookery Classic)
2nd Seamus Browne Letterkenny, Co. Cork
3rd John Stacey Bunclody, Co. Wexford
Class 6 Novice Ewe Lamb
1st Aaron Kealy Dunshauglin, Co. Meath
2nd Colin Watchorn Newcastle Co. Wicklow
3rd David Quinlan Gowran, Co. Kilkenny
Class 7 Ewe Lamb
1st Philip Lynch Castlebellingham, Co. Louth,(Sire by Rookery Rodeo: Dam by Caireness Achievement)
2nd Seamus Browne Letterkenny, Co. Donegal.
3rd Patrick O’Keeffe, Mallow, Co. Cork.
Delighted sellers and delighted buyers was the theme in Roscrea on Saturday last when the South of
Ireland Branch of the Suffolk Sheep Society held their Premier Show and Sale at Roscrea Mart.
100% clearance on Shearling Ewes; 93 % Clearance of Ewe Lambs: 75% clearance of Ram Lambs;
67% Clearance of Shearing Rams reflected the mood of the day. Buyers from France purchased four
ram lambs and a number of very impressed Northern Ireland buyers were very happy to travel to
Roscrea to invest in their choice of breeding ram lamb for the coming season.
Champion of the Show was selected by Judge Jimmy Rooney “Benwiskin Flock” as AJ & JA Lucas’s of
the “Finnvale Flock” January born Ram lamb sired by Oakbridge Maxiumus. The judge was so
impressed by this lamb that he chose to purchase him at the sale later in the afternoon. This same
lamb was deemed as Male Champion and placed 1st in the open Ram Lamb Class.
Seamus Browne of the Errigal Flock came in as Reserve Champion with a late December born ram
lamb sired by Lakeview Heart of Gold. This lamb also captured the Reserve Male Champion Rosette
as was 1st prize winner in the Recorded Class and 2nd in the Group of Three Rams. Another Ram
Lamb owned by Seamus, also sired by Lakeview Heart of Gold, was placed 2nd in the Open Ram
Lamb Class.
Philip Lynch of the Glyde Flock followed up his success in the 2018 National Championships by
winning the Female Championship for the second time in three years with a Rookery Rodeo sired
Ewe Lamb, born in early January. This lamb won 1st prize in the Ewe Lamb Class as well as in the NSC
in Kilkenny in June and sold for top female price of €1,200 gns. Philip also took 3rd prize in the open
ram class with a Young Burnview the Duke sired lamb and 3rd in the Group of Three Rams; selling to
Greg Rossiter.
Reserve Female Champion of the Show went to another Donegal Breeders Jeffrey & Robert
Thornton of the Killyclug Flock. Their Shearling Ewe sired by Birness Bravado secured the Reserve
Champion Rosette as well as 1st place in the Single Shearling Ewe Class.
Average prices: Shearling Ewes €910.00: Ewe Lambs €605.00: Shearling Rams €700.00:
Ram Lambs €1030.00
High Prices in €gns.
Seamus Browne €4,200 gns; €2,800gns: €2,000gns: €1,900gns; €1,000gns.
Susan O’Keeffe €3,200: €1,600gns.
John A Doherty €3,000gns: €2,600gns.
William R Wilson €2,050gns twice: €1,450gns: €1,200gns.
Thomas Cavanagh €2,000gns.
AJ & JA Lucas €2,000gns: €1,300gns.
Philip Lynch €1,200gns
Philp Byrne €1,200gns
Colin Watchorn €1,100gns twice.
Jeffrey & Robert Thornton €1,000gns
Andrew Wilson €1,000gns.
Class 1 – Single shearling ewe
1 Lot 3 J+R Thornton
PWU:17:03884 by Birness Bravado
2 Lot 2 J+E Gahan
SKW:17:00455 by Rookery Best of the Best
3 Lot 5 M+J O’Neill
DBJ:17:01921 by Ballygarvanstud Bullseye
Class 2 – Single ewe lamb
1 Lot 23 P Lynch
CZK:18:00902 by Rookery Rodeo
2 Lot 18 G Killilea
HOL:18:03298 by Solwaybank Overdrive
3 Lot 10 C Watchorn
PXL:18:00358 by Mountford Classic
Class 3 – Shearling Ram
1 Lot 26 L+A Kirkpatrick
PWW:17:00076 BY Solwaybank Major
2 Lot 28 K Bailey
HDC:17:00914 by Ballygarvanstud Flashdance
3 Lot 24 M Ennett
LZN:17:00729 by Limestone Will Griggs on Fire
Class 4 – Ram Lamb sired by a SOI Bred Ram
1 Lot 106 J Doherty
CFN:18:02731 by Malinhead Viking
2 Lot 118 T Cavanagh
KFR:18:12637 by Gulladuff McGregor
3 Lot 98 P O’Keeffe
NBK:18:05919 by Shannagh Knockout
Class 5–Recorded Class
1 Lot 52 S Browne
PBH:18:01174 by Lakeview Heart of Gold
2 Lot 158 WJ + R Wilson
78A:18:06367 by Lakeview Armani
3 Lot 77 S O’Keeffe
BYD:18:02442 by Muirton One Direction
Class 6 – Novice ram lamb
1 Lot 162 J+R Thornton
PWU:18:03955 by Birness Bacardi
2 Lot 92 J+R Thornton
PWU:18:03956 by Birness Bacardi
3 Lot 116 C Watchorn
PXL:18:00384 by Mountford Classic
Class 7 – Open Ram Lamb
1 Lot 88 AJ + JA Lucas
DWT:18:01017 by Oakbridge Maximus
2 Lot 51 S Browne
PBH:18:01198 by Lakeview Heart of Gold
3 Lot 101 P Lynch
CZK:18:00915 by Burnview the Duke
Class 8- Groups of Three Ram Lambs
1 Lots 85, 86 & 158 RJ Wilson
78A: 18:06388, 78A: 18:06401 and 78A: 18:06367
Female champion
Lot 23 P Lynch
CZK:18:00902 by Rookery Rodeo
Reserve female champion
Lot 3 J+R Thornton
PWU:17:03884 by Birness Bravado
Male and Supreme Champion
Lot 88 AJ Lucas
DWT:18:01017 by Oakbridge Maximus
Reserve Male and Overall Reserve Champion
Lot 52 S Browne
PBH:18:01174 by Lakeview heart of Gold
