The Borris Ewe Breeders’ Association held its 61st show and sale as the sun was shining down at Borris Mart in Co. Carlow last weekend.

With the sale yard described as “absolutely buzzing,” buyers from all four provinces were there on the day.

Overall there was a 97% clearance with many hogget ewes making €250-300 while the ewe lambs were making from €130-200.

A spokesperson from the Borris Ewe Breeders’ Association said: “There was a tremendous selection of ewes on offer, with one buyer saying it was the best yard of sheep he’d seen.

“The Borris Ewe Breeders did not disappoint with the quality and standard of their sheep.”

There were 1,000 hogget ewes and 600 ewe lambs available at the sale.

The lambs were sold first at 10:30a.m, and the hogget ewes were sold later in the day at 12:30p.m.

The prize winners for ewes were:

  1. Tomas McCarthy, Knocksquire (€350);
  2. Jane Minnock, Knocksquire (€360);
  3. Seamus O’Kelly, Ballytiglea (€315);
  4. Pat Farrell, Kiltealy(€310);
  5. Sheedy O’Kelly, Ballytiglea (€295).
Tomas McCarthy’s winning ewes Source: Borris Ewe Breeders

Winners in the ewe lambs were:

  1. Cormac Kavanagh, Knocksquire (Lot 506 53.5kg €220);
  2. Ger Hennessy, Clohastia (Lot 526 57kg €200);
  3. Padraig Joyce, Tomas Joyce, Knockroe (Lot 545 40kg €160);
  4. Bill Roberts, Glasslacken (Lot 513 48.5kg €190);
  5. Richard Furlong, Coppenagh (Lot 500 47kg €175).
Cormac Kavanagh’s winning ewe lambs Source: Borris Ewe Breeders

Ewe lambs saw an offering of 600 top quality ewe lambs with a 85% clearance rate with a steady trade with best sorts from €165-€220.

Lots of 38kg-48kg made from €155-€170 with the average price €165 for 46kg with the exception of the prize winners.

A special thanks was given by the association to the Hayden family for presenting the Adrian Hayden memorial cup.

Pat and Catherine Hayden with their granson, Dara Fenlon with the Adrian Hayden memorial cup and a photo of the late Adrian Hayden Source: Borris Ewe Breeders

Hayden worked tirelessly as secretary and committee member of the Borris Ewe Breeders.

The association will hold a total of three sales in 2024, with the remaining two sales set to take place on Saturday, August 24 and on Saturday, September 7.

BORRIS EWE BORRIS EWE BREEDERS ASSOCIATION SHEEP