Offaly breeder top of the flocks in Roscommon

IT WAS double success on a very good ‘day at the mart’ for Offaly sheep breeder Ciaran Coughlan at the opening Vendeen sheep breeding sale of the season in Roscommon.

He is well-known as an exhibitor in the show rings where the flock has been among the most successful in recent years — ranking third highest for Show Flock of the Year 2015.

And the Vendeen breeder from Noggus Ferbane topped the prices at the sale at Roscommon Mart for both rams and ewes, with the two highest priced lots in each category.

He received €960 for the highest priced ram purchased by Margaret Geraghty, Cloonara, Roscommon and collected the second highest price when she paid €810 for another ram from the flock.

In the ewe section, Mr Coughlan showed the four highest price lots.

Mark and Audrey Crowe, Killeen Road, Dunsany, Co Meath paid €355 for the highest priced lot in the sale, while Patrick Fay, The Rock, Lisboduff, Cootehill, Co Cavan paid the second highest price purchasing at €320. The two next highest prices were also from the Ferbane flock at €310 and €300.

Mart manager Maura Quigley described the sale as “very successful” with the strong demand reflected in an almost complete clearance of lots on offer.

In the ram section, John Lynch, Ballinascraw, Ballinalee, Co Longford received €800 and €680 respectively for two lots, while Thomas Duffy, Tallagh, Belmullet, Co Mayo, received €780 and James Shay Kennedy, Churchtown Hill, Carrick On Suir, was paid €760.

Cheryl O’Brien — winner of the top Show Flock of the Year 2015 — sold two rams at €710 and €680, while Andrew Gilmore, Cortober, Kingscourt, Co Cavan, was paid €705 and Mark and Audrey Crowe, Killeen Road, Dunsany, Co Meath received €700.

Ram prices ranged from €370, while in the ewe section a smaller entry saw prices range from €250.