The Irish Charolais Cattle Society hosted its annual national show at Tullamore Show and FBD National Livestock Show on Sunday, August 10.

The Charolais breed always draws a good level of interest from the crowds due to the high standard of cattle in the classes, and this year was no different.

Tasked with judging the entries on the day was Sean McGovern from the Ratoary Herd in Northern Ireland and Medwyn Williams from the Castellmawr Herd in Wales, both commended the quality of stock on display.

There were winners who took rosettes home to herds from counties Donegal to Cork and Dublin to Sligo as well as everywhere in between.

The Overall Championship went the way of Brendan and Niall Canning from Co. Sligo for their September-born heifer Sagesse Vera ET, sired by Goldstar Echo.

Taking the Reserve Overall Championship was Declan Bourke from Co. Tipperary for his January-born heifer Knockinroe16 Alice ET, sired by society bull Neptune.

Both of these animals were also the Senior and Reserve Senior Female Calf Champions.

Taking the Senior Championship of the show was Goldstar Irene.

Sired by Flambeau and out of French dam Belladonne, she is owned by Martin Ryan from Thurles in Co. Tipperary.

The Reserve Senior Champion went to Drumcullen Victorious.

Sired by Drumcullen Superman out of a home-bred dam Drumcullen Penelope, she is owned by John Fleury from Birr in Co. Offaly.

Martin Ryan also had the Junior Female Champion of the show with Goldstar Adorable, who is sired by society bull Nevers.

Breaghwyhill Ava owned by Eamonn O'Connor took the reserve junior female championship. Ava was sired by Newhouse Bigal and out of a home-bred dam.

Clonmahon Vadim owned by Eddie Daly from Summerhill in Co. Meath took the Senior Male Calf Championship.

Vadim's sire was society bull Neptune and he is out of Leagaun Galway.

The Reserve went to Lisnagre Val, also sired by Neptune and out of Lisnagre Pio (et).

He is owned by Jim Geoghegan from Mullingar in Co. Westmeath.

The Junior Male Championship went to Jon Regan from Castlegal in Co. Leitrim for Liscally Abracadabra.

Sired by Ocean and out of home-bred dam Liscally Pretty Polly 3 (et), he was born January 21, 2025.

Dundoire Admiral born in February 2025 took the reserve championship for owner Shane Maguire from Co. Meath. Sired by Military and out of Aquachoua Poppy (et).

Other red rosette winners on the day were:

Seamus McCann from Co. Dublin for his bull Topnotch Useful. Born January 12, 2023, he was sired by Swalesmoor Orville and out of a home-bred dam Topnotch Octavia;
John O'Connor from Mullingar in Co. Westmeath for his September-born bull Larahill Valentino. Sired by Neptune and out of Larahill Tess (et). John also received the red rosette for Larahill Violet, also sired by Neptune and out of Ballydownan Maggie and was born in August 2024.

Sean Lowry from Portlaoise, Co. Laois won first for his November-born bull, Kimora Volvo ET. He was also sired by Neptune and out or Prime Rose.

Martin Hughes from Castleblayney in Co. Monaghan won first for Tonyglasson Alfie ET. Born in January 2025, he is sired by Doonally New and out of Golfview Aoife.

Bobby O'Connell from Co. Limerick won first for his bull Ballybrown Apollo ET.

Sired by Neptune and out of Grangwood Rosebud, he was born in April 2025. Bobby also had first place with Kiltananlae Una born January 2023 and sired by Neptune, she is out of Kiltananlae Milly.

Conor Melvin from Hollystown in Dublin won first for Goodmove Vogue ET. Sired by society bull Reglisse and out of Leagaun Leandra, she was born in September 2024.

Kate and Andrew Norris from Co. Donegal won first for Dreamteam Violet ET.

Born in October 2024, she is sired by Goldstar Echo and out of Tawny Omega.

James and Noel McSweeney from Co. Cork won first for Rovanagh Violet Pearl. Born in December 2024, and sired by Noble Prince, this heifer was out of a home-bred dam Rovanagh Pearl.

In the pairs section, the Raferagh Herd owned by Patrick Cassidy from Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan took the Junior Pairs championship with Rockvalley Vida (et) and Rafeeragh Vienna.

The Goldstar Herd owned by Martin Ryan from Thurles took the Senior Pairs Championship with Goldstar Une Star and Goldstar Urfee.

In the young breeders category, Kate McGovern from Co. Sligo was the winner of the Young Breeders Class aged 12-16 and Nicola Mulligan from Co. Galway was the winner of the Young Breeders Class aged 17-22 years.