Ballybofey & Stranorlar 2025

RECORDS BROKEN! Ballybofey and Stranorlar Sale hit an all-time high with Champion Ram Lamb V004 Caoramor selling for €5,000.

What an incredible day at Ballybofey and Stranorlar Mart. The Twin Towns were buzzing as buyers from across the country packed the ring, all keen to snap up the exceptional quality stock brought forward by the South of Ireland Bluefaced Leicester Club members. A huge thanks to everyone who supported out sale and to Brian and all at Ballybofey and Stranorlar Mart for their professionalism and friendship.

The presale show was ably judged by Roger Hayes of the Castledamph Flock in Tyrone. In the Shearling ram class he found his 1st Prize in the pen of James McCaffrey of the Ominey Flock. This very correct homebred sheep T026 was by R006 Street and out of a homebred R017 Ominey. 2nd Prize was exhibited by Christopher Kerr of the Kerrs Flock, their T012 homebred tup was sired by S004 Caoramor and out of Mistyburn K016. 3rd prize was exhibited by Nicola McLaughlin of the Wild Atlantic Flock, a Mossvale T006 by R001 Burndale and out of a Mossvale M013 ewe.

In a very strong ram lamb class, Roger found his 1st and 2nd prize lambs in the Caoramor pen of Kieran & Patrick McGrath. Following on from the Caoramor success in Ballinrobe, there was much anticipation in seeing V004 and V005 Caoramor, both full embryo brothers to the 15.1k V001 sold in Ballinrobe. Roger placed V004 1st, a very well-proportioned lamb with great outlook, presence and clean colours, V005 was placed 2nd and he again showed great presence and power, combined with correctness and clean colours. Both were by Mistyburn Bolt and out of the homebred Caoramor S035. Taking 3rd prize was an excellent lamb exhibited by Declan Cullen of the Derryvarogue Flock, Declan’s V001, a very correct and powerful lamb, by Beeches Wingman and out of a ewe Declan purchased from Ian Montgomery, Mistyburn R036, at the in-lamb female sale held in Ballymena last January. She has turned out to be a very useful purchase for Declan who has an excellent sister to his V001 retained for breeding at Derrvarogue. 4th prize went to Tommy and Shauna Fitzmaurice of the Drinane Flock. Their very colourful and correct V051 lamb sired by Ballygorian More R005 and out of a homebred R057 dam.

Champion of the day was the 1st prize Ram Lamb, Caoramor V004 and Reserve Champion was the 1st prize Shearling Ram Ominey T026.

Topping the day’s trade, and backing the judge’s decision was the Champion V004 Caoramor, who saw an array of bidders plying to take him home with the final bid of €5,000 settling to the Fields Flock of Alistair Christie. Immediately after saw the 2nd prize ram lamb, V005 Caoramor step into the ring and he was purchased by Tommy and Shauna Fitzmaurice of the Drinane Flock for €3,100. Caoramor also saw their next lamb in, V009, also by Mistyburn Bolt sell at €2,100.

Also making €2,100 was Malinhead V012 exhibited by J.J. and Martin Doherty. Their classy and correct traditional bred lamb which really stood out for his power was purchased by Kim Coleman of the Brague Flock.

Other leading prices of the day;

Jack Wickham, Deer View Farm Flock, €1,800 for a Ram Lamb Lot 35 sired by M002 Tullagh.

Declan Cullen, Derrvarogue Flock, €1,650 for the 3rd Prize Ram lamb Lot 7.

Tommie Navin, Letterbrock Flock, €1,500 for a Ram Lamb Lot 26 sired by Markethill T003.

Tommy and Shauna Fitzmaurice, Drinane Flock, €1,450 for the 4th Prize Ram Lamb.

All Shearling rams sold to a top of €1,000 and an average of €716.

93% clearance of Ram lambs to a top of €5,000 and an average of €1,085.

Congratulations to all vendors and purchasers on a fantastic day! See you all again next year.