Celebrating five decades of Texels

Texel sheep have gone from strength to strength since the formation of a breeding society in 1976, reports Martin Ryan

THE ‘discovery’ of the Texel breed on farms on the continent, which led to the importation of the ‘new’ breed of sheep into Ireland half a century ago, was recalled the Irish Texel Sheep Society recent 40th anniversary celebrations.

“The very first Texel sheep that came into Ireland almost did so by accident,” John Shirley told a gathering of more than 100 members, breeders and guests at the event in Tullamore.

“In 1964 three representatives from the Department of Agriculture – Chief Livestock Inspector, John Beatty, Reddy Day and Austin Mescal –were in Holland on a buying mission for Dutch Friesians when they came across these impressive white sheep called Texels and decided there and then that they should buy them for import into Ireland,” he explained.

On their return to Ireland they informed the then Minister for Agriculture, Paddy Smith of their purchase.

“Who is going to pay for these sheep,” the Minister asked to which he received the reply from the trio: “you are Minister.”

Dr More O’Farrell recalled the founding of the Irish Texel Sheep Society in June 1976, following the success of the initial imports in 1964 and further imports in 1972.

Records

The formation of a society and the keeping of a flock book were set down as primary conditions by the Department for the importations.

The first chairman of the society was John Mee, Coolderry, Four Road, Co Roscommon.

The minutes of the inaugural meeting record that a decision was taken that no public sale should take place that year and, in accordance with the Department’s condi- tions, members were obliged to keep sales’ records to avoid in breeding.

A flock registration fee of £5 was set and flock codes agreed and arrangements put in place for the first society field day to be held at Raphoe, Co Donegal. It was also decided that weight records should be kept to establish the growth potential of the breed.

Annual regional and national flock awards now recognise the top Texel flocks in the country.

The 2016 awards were announced and presented at the Tullamore event with the overall award going to the South West Regional Winner, Arthur O’Keeffe, Mallow, Co Cork.

Regional awards were presented to: North East – Paddy Leonard, Smithboro, Co Monaghan; Midlands – Jim Kelly, Carbury, Co Kildare; South East – Tom Whelan, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford; West – Darragh Cunniffe, Tuam, Co Galway.