A sale full of energy with many new faces around the ring, albeit hidden under face coverings.  The averages in all sections were well up on the year and a record price for the rams.  Shearling ewes saw a clearance of 97% with the average €63 up.  Ewe lambs were €51 ahead and rams saw all except one find a new home with a top price of €2000.

 The shearling ewe section topped at €300/head when C & H Long, Castlefin sold a pen of 5 to Fergal Leonard, Tullamore.  Next Alan McDonald, Killeigh sold his best pen of 5 at €275/head to Eileen Irwin, Bruff.  Mr McDonald sold a pen at €270/head to Dominic Sullivan, Mullingar.  Brian Matthews, Killeigh topped at €270/head when bought by Kenneth O’Donnell, Barnatra.  A handful of smaller sheep could be bought for around €200 but many pens realised €230-250.

 The ewe lambs saw J Vance, Ballintra pull out some smaller lots and sell for €195/head, first to Lesley Cooney, Ballycreen and then Patsy Rooney, Leckaun, Patsy also bought one for €185/head from Mr Vance.  Pat Bobbett, Lusk made the journey worthwhile when he sold a strong pen of 10 for €180/head to James Irwin, Manorhamilton.  Many pens were sold €120-€150 price bracket.

Excitement stayed up throughout the rams with plenty of buyers around the ring until the end.  Some leaving with empty trailers.  Five rams realised €1000 and above.  The record price of €2000 came from the pen of Brian Matthews with Quarrymount Immense (01879/198682E) sired by a Derek Steen ram.  He was purchased by Keith Wheatley, Dunlavin.  Next came C & H Long, with Finnleigh Ingo (01930/190614J) also sired by a Steen ram.  At €1800 this matches the Long’s sale record from 2017.  The final bid was made jointly by Alan McDonald and Fergal Leonard, both of Killeigh.  Alan McDonald sold Ormston Ibiza (01852/1902883) by a AW Hughes ram for €1320 to David Beattie, Ballinagh.  Brian Matthews sold Quarrymount Immortal (01879/198670J) away at €1160 and JC Long sold Lacopo (02376/190610A) at €1000.

 Averages

Shearling Ewes to €300 av. €213.50 [£213.50] (+€63)

Ewe Lambs to €195 av. €145 [£130.70] (+€51)

Rams to €2000 av. €757 [£682] (+€188)

Top Prices

Shearling Ewes

C & H Long €300

A McDonald €275

B Matthews €270

A McDonald €270

A McDonald €260

O Barry €260

A McDonald €255

C & H Long €255

B Matthews €250

D Beattie €250

Ewe Lambs

J Vance €195 (x2)

J Vance €185

Pat Bobbett €180

J Vance €150

D Oliver €145

M Harney €140 (x2)

K Bracken €130

M Harney €125

D Ryan €125

Rams

B Matthews (126) €2000

C & H Long (107) €1800

A McDonald (116) €1320

B Matthews (127) €1160

JC Long (115) €1000

C Richardson (111) €920

D Beattie (130) €860

L & S McCrossan (132) €840

D Beattie (131) €820

C & H Long (108) €760

D Oliver (120) €760

Auctioneers: Roscommon Mart