CAP among the big winners seen by 60,000 at Tullamore

The huge benefits for everyone right across Ireland of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy were brought home to an attendance of about 60,000 at last Sunday’s Tullamore Show and AIB National Livestock Show.

The CAP delivers a secure supply of quality, safe and traceable food at an affordable price for the consumer, whilst protecting our environment and maintaining our rural communities and the economy, said Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney, launching ‘Be Agri Aware — Put your thinking CAP on!’ .

This is the campaign to communicate the CAP to the general public undertaken by Agri Aware, the Irish agri-food educational body.

Minister Coveney also reminded farmers and their families at the show to be vigilant when it comes to farm safety.

“It is one of the most important issues facing farming today. I urge you all, and indeed every organisation and person involved in farming, to continually highlight the issue of safety, and make farming a safer occupation for all involved in the sector”.

FRS Training (Farm Relief Services), FBD and the HSA (Health and Safety Authority) joined their strengths at the Co Offaly event together, staging practical interactive farm safety demonstrations of the main farm hazard areas

Show entries were up 10% this year. Even the humble spud had its moment of glory, in the Bord Bia All Ireland Quality Potato Championships, with David Curran from Fethard in Co Tipperary crowned the best grower.

Husband and wife Noel and Kathleen Higgins from Athlonetoo the second and third prizes, while mother and son, Margaret and Michael McGoldrick from Dromahaire, Co Leitrim, kept the fourth and fifth prizes in the family.

The competition celebrates the skills of about 540 Irish growers who plant about 9,800 hectares of potatoes annually.

The main winners in the AIB National Livestock Show were as follows.

Dairy

Jersey:

Eamonn Mcloughney Nenagh, Co Tipperary (Bluestone JJ Louise). Reserve: Patrick Ahern, Rylane, Co Cork (Clydeyalley Pride Twinkle).

Dairy Shorthorn:

Michael & Ann-Maree Manley, Edenderry, Offaly (Monasteroris Jennie Deans 17th). Reserve: Kenny Smyth, St Margarets, Co Dublin (Kilrisk RW).

Holstein Friesian Young Showmanship (aged 20-26):

Philip O’Brien, Tullamore, Co Offaly.

Junior Holstein-Friesian Dairy Champion:

Liam Murphy Bagenalstown, Carlow (Evergreen Seven Lauren). Reserve: Pat Smith, Doneraile, Cork (Cahirmee Aftershock Marieka).

Super €2,500 National Holstein In-milk Heifer:

David Boyd, Glaslough, Monaghan (Glaslough Miss Persia). Reserve: Bryan O’Connor Kanturk, Co Cork (Clongowes Sid Almeric 2).

€2,500 AIB National Livestock Show Senior Cow In-milk:

Liam Murphy, Bagenalstown, Carlow (Evergreen Duplex Ebony). Reserve: David Boyd, Monaghan, Monaghan (Glaslough Goldwyn Bret).

Senior Holstein-Friesian Champion:

Liam Murphy, Bagenalstown, Carlow. (Evergreen Duplex Ebony). Reserve: David Boyd, Monaghan (Glaslough Goldwyn Bret).

Holstein-Friesian National Breeding Cow Family Championship:

Bryan O’Connor, Kanturk. Reserve: Pat SmithDoneraile.

Beef

Young Pedigree Beef Stockperson of the Year:

Jack Vahey, Castlebar, Co Mayo. Reserve: John Smyth, Old Castle, Co Meath.

Limousin Champion:

Connell Brothers, Oldcastle, Co Meath (Baileys Ice Princess). Reserve: Gary Morrissey, Bennekerry, Co Carlow (Grangeford Jojo).

Irish Limousin National Championship Top Exhibitor:

Donal Moloney.

AIB National Livestock Show Limousin Female Champion:

Connell Brothers,

National All Ireland Pair of Limousin:

Dan Tynan.

National Pedigree Hereford Cow:

Glenn Dudley, Dovea.

National Hereford Heifer of the Year:

Matthew Goulding, Ballyduff, Co Kerry.

AIB National Livestock Show Hereford Female Champion and Reserve:

Matthew Goulding.

Hereford Bull of the Year:

Tom & Anselm Fitzgerald, Moate, Co Westmeath (Grianan Oscar). Reserve: Padraig Farrell, Athlone, Co Westmeath.

Hereford Champion:

Tom & Anselm Fitzgerald (Grianan Oscar). Reserve: Matthew Goulding, Tralee, Co Kerry (Gouldingpoll 1 Duchess).

Simmental Champion:

Neenan Bros, Ballyhaunis, Mayo (Fearna Destiny). Reserve: Joe McGarry, Longford (Clonguish Elegant).

AIB National Livestock Show Simmental Female Champion:

Neenan Bros. Reserve: Joe McGarry, Longford.

AIB National Livestock Show Simmental Male Champion:

Nigel Hogan. Reserve: Derek Costello.

Charolais Champion:

Ryan Family, Thurles, Co Tipperary (Goldstar Elle). Reserve: Jim Geoghegan, Mullingar, Westmeath (Lisnagre Jasper).

AIB National Livestock Show Charolais Female Champion:

Ryan Family. Reserve: Bobby O’Connell.

AIB National Livestock Show Charolais Male Champion:

Jim Geoghegan. Reserve: Aidan Farrell.

Piemontese Champion:

Paddy Blake Kilcock, Kildare (Martell). Reserve: Paul Gilligan, Mountrath, Laois (LUSA).

Aubrac Champion:

Kelly Stephenson, Donard, Co Wicklow (Glencara Isla). Reserve: Francis & Jennifer Donohoe, Mullingar, Westmeath (Jouve Vera).

Irish Moiled Champion:

Mark McConnell, Castlefin, Co Donegal (Macmann Donegal Danny Boy). Reserve: James Gannon, Castlerea, Roscommon (Cluain Conrach Ivy).

Angus Champion:

Michael Sheahan, Cappawhite, Tipperary (Luddenmore Ellen Erica). Reserve: Albert De Cogan, Castlemartyr, Co Cork (Wedderlie Black Box J935).

AIB National Livestock Show Angus Female Champion:

Michael Sheahan. Reserve: Tom Reynolds.

AIB National Livestock Show Angus Male Champion:

Albert De Cogan. Reserve: John McEnroe.

Belgian Blue Champion:

Richard & Fidelma Stanley, Bandon, Co Cork (Ballinakill Holly). Reserve: Trevor Ashmore, Enniscorthy, Wexford.

AIB National Livestock Show Belgian Blue Male Champion:

Trevor Ashmore. Reserve: David Pearson.

Salers Champion:

John Burke, Clarecastle, Co Clare (Manusmore Harmony). Reserve: Declan Bell, Clarecastle, Co Clare (Ballyvonnavaun Olga).

Blonde d’Aquitaine Champion:

John Lynch Longford (Ballinascraw Glory). Reserve: John Barry Moran, Athlone, Westmeath.

Parthenaise Champion:

Patrick Doyle, Bunclody, Co Wexford (Kyle Jenny). Reserve: Harry Steacy, Gorey, Wexford (Wingfield Jordan).

Beef Shorthorn Champion:

Tommy Staunton, Kinvara, Galway (Caramba Rothes Hottie). Reserve: Tommy Staunton (Graigue Hilltop).

Commercial Cattle

Best Bullock with No Permanent Teeth:

Erwin Stanley, Portlaoise.

Bullock with not more than two Permanent Teeth:

Robert & Mark McGivern Carrigtwohill, Cork.

Bullock All Ages:

Robert & Mark McGivern.

Commercial Replacement Breeding Heifer:

Gene McCann, Julianstown, Meath.

Butcher’s Heifer:

Derrick Forde, Corrandulla, Co Galway.

Moyvalley Meats €2,000 Commercial Factory Bullock:

Sinead Prendergast, Claremorris, Mayo.

Kepak Championship for the Beef Factory Animal of the Future:

Sean O’Brien, Culdaff, Co Donegal.

Dawn Meats é2000 Factory Heifer Championship:

Gene McCann, Julianstown, Meath.

AIB National Livestock Show Commercial Calf Championship:

Marie McCormack, Ballymahon Co Westmeath.

AIB National Livestock Show Commercial Cattle Senior Championship:

Michael Martin, Moate, Co Westmeath.

Heifer with no Permanent Teeth:

Erwin Stanley, Portlaoise.

Heifer with not more than two Permanent Teeth:

Michael Martin, Moate, Co Westmeath.

Heifer All Ages:

Helena Fitzgerald, Piltown, Kilkenny.

Blonde D’Aquitaine X Calf:

Eamonn O’Brien, Claremorris, Mayo.

Belgian Blue X Calf (male):

Grace Wharton, Birr, Co Offaly.

Parthenaise X Calf:

Owen O’Neill, Bagenalstown, Carlow.

Charolais X Calf:

Shane Giltinane, Croagh, Co Limerick.

Belgian Blue X Calf (female):

Marie McCormack, Ballymahon, Co Westmeath.

Limousin X Calf Female:

Sean O’Brien, Culdaff, Co Donegal.

Limousin X Calf Male:

Laoise Carry Lynch, Kells, Co Meath.

Male Calf Weighing up to 275kg:

David Wharton, Birr, Co Offaly.

Male Calf Weighing 276-425 Kg:

Laoise Carry Lynch.

Female Calf up to 250 kg:

Carol Carry Lynch, Kells, Co Meath.

Commercial Suckler Cow with calf at foot:

Kieran Killeen, Mullagh, Clare.

Sheep

Texel Champion:

John and Neil Kidd, Bunclody, Co Wexford. Reserve: Michael Gallagher, Glanworth, Cork.

Vendeen:

John Lynch, Longford. Reserve: Conor & Cheryl O’Brien Kildorrery, Co Cork.

Suffolk:

Susan O’Keeffe, Mallow, Cork. Reserve: Arthur O’Keeffe, Mallow, Co Cork.

Charollais:

Liam Conway, Ballinasloe, Co Galway. Reserve: Frank Gibbons, Strokestown, Roscommon.

Rouge de l’Ouest:

Alaster Swift, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford.

Galway:

Sean Kilkelly, Athenry, Co Galway. Reserve: Martin & Gerard Ward, Ballinasloe, Co Galway.

Beltex:

Dermot Goss, Dundalk, Co Louth. Reserve: John & Sean Browne, Tullamore, Co Offaly.

Jacob:

Derek Brown, Belturbet, Cavan.

Belclare:

Champion and Reserve: Declan & Joe Miley, Roscommon.

Welsh Lleyn:

Alan McDonald, Killeigh, Co Offaly. Reserve: Mary Gordan, Enniscrone, Co Sligo.

Zwartbles:

Maria Smyth, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. Reserve: Jim Croke, Fethard, Tipperary.

Border Leicester:

Champion and Reserve: Brian Jordan, Duncormick, Co Wexford.

Junior Sheep Stockperson:

Alan Cuddy, Portlaoise.

Commercial Sheep Champion:

Brian Jordan, Duncormick, Co Wexford. Reserve: Lavin Brothers, Strokestown, Co Roscommon.

Horses

Non-thoroughbred Mare & Foal:

James Ryan, Thurles, Tipperary (Colourfield Lady & Miss Harry). Reserve: Sinead Fenton, Athlone, Co Westmeath (Zippidee Doh Dah).

Irish Draught Foal Championship:

Padraig Coughlan, Ballymahon, Co Westmeath (Coolvin Temple 2). Reserve: James Ryan, Thurles, Tipperary (Miss Harry).

Supreme Ridden Champion:

Annemieke PlassBallinahown, Co Westmeath (malcom of orange). Reserve: Danielle Murphy, Straduff, Offaly (Thornfield dubh).

Champion Working Hunter Pony:

Ailish Ridgeway, Portarlington, Co Offaly (Anna Thunder Struck). Reserve: Claire Connor, Athlone, Westmeath (Ruan Renegade).

Champion Clydesdale:

Pat O’Boyle, Portglenone, Antrim (Lagavar Rosie). Reserve: Derek Bailey, Clonmel, Co Tipperary (Slievenamon Whitney).

Champion and Reserve Miniature Horse or Pony:

Suzanne Acres, Wicklow (Ballykeppogue Ultimate Confession, Ujenik Extasys Alpine Boy).

Champion Connemara Pony:

Mick McMenamon, Slane, Co Meath (Boyne Valley Princess). Reserve: Padraig Smyth, Ballinasloe, Co Galway (Coolillaun Mist).

Produce

Best Exhibit:

Alan Feighery Kilcormac, Offaly.

Bord Bia All Ireland Quality Potato Championship:

David Curran, Fethard, Co Tipperary.

Bridge House All Ireland Championship for Collection of Vegetables:

Michael Walton, Ballisodare, Co Sligo.

Single Hybrid Tea Rose All Ireland Championship:

Christopher White, Naul, Co Dublin

All Ireland Home Baking Championship:

Krisztina Erdodi, Athy Co Kildare.

Odlums Youth All Ireland Home Baking Championship:

Sophie Bell, Virginia, Co Cavan.

Redmills All Ireland Poultry Championship:

Peter Hamill, Dungannon. Tyrone.

Champion Dog:

Alan Miles, Ballinagore, Co westmeath. Reserve: Ailish Ridgeway, Portarlington, Co Offaly.