Roscrea Premier Show & Sale 2026

Saturday 1st August again saw the Irish Suffolk Sheep Society Premier Show and Sale take centre stage in Roscrea Mart.

The With close to 100 of the finest Suffolk sheep on offer from top breeders across Ireland, there was stiff competition in the show ring and great interest in the sales ring.

Photo: Overall Supreme Champion and Reserve Champion. Back Row L-R: Pat Lynch Chairperson, Anne Mitchell Retiring Secretary, Barry Murphy Judge. Front Row L-R James Rooney Benwiskin Flock Overall Supreme Champion and Willie Gleeson Wexford Flock Overall Reserve Champion.

The day kicked off in the show ring with the ewe lamb class where the Irish Suffolk Society was delighted to have Barry Murphy of the Murbro Flock as our guest judge. The winning ewe lamb came from the Bannow Flock of Greg Rossiter, Wexford. Greg’s stylish ewe lamb was sired by Glenroe Dinny and out of a Bentley Born Again ewe. She sold for 1,050gns. The second place ewe lamb came from Michael Murphy’s Moneen Flock, Galway and sold for 1,300gns. Both these females going to new breeders. Third in this class went a Zachary & Bernadett Silke’s Sacre-Coeur Flock.

This was followed by the Hogget Ewe class where the red ribbon went to the Columbkille Flock of Richard Moore, Kilkenny. This Classy Islandmoyle magic ewe was knocked down at 850gns. Second place in this class fell to Thomas Corcoran’s Derryglan Flock with third place to Richard Moore’s Columbkille Flock. Females met with huge interest in the ring with most selling to new breeders and an average price of 765gns.

Next was the highly competitive Shearling Ram Class. First place went to the Wexfo Flock of Willie Gleeson. This very correct ram was sired by Leaguan Ed and out of a Bentley Lockdown ewe went on to take Overall Reserve Champion and attracting keen interest in the ring and topping the sale at 2,900gns. Also, Greg Rossiter’s 3rd place Shearling out of a Bentley Born Again made 2,350gns. Hogget Rams averaged 1,270gns.

The prestigious John Joe Mitchell cup was presented to the Overall Supreme Champion from James Rooney’s Benwiskin Flock, for his Ram Lamb sired by Benwiskin Cracksman. This powerful ram lamb who also placed first in the Recorded class proved popular in the ring selling for 2,800gns. The Recorded Ram lamb class had an extremely strong line up seeing rams from John Martin’s Duncormick Flock take 2nd and Greg Rossiter’s Bannow Flock take 3rd.

The Open Ram Lamb class was full of high quality ram lambs and despite stiff competition Pat Rossiter’s County Flock took first place with a son of Comeragh Micheil out of a Bentley Boxer ewe, 2nd place going to James Rooney’s Benwiskin Flock and 3rd place to John Martin Duncormick Flock.

Photo: Presentation to retiring Secretary: Richard Moore (left) and Michael Clarke (right) making presentation to Anne Mitchell (centre) who is retiring from her role as Irish Suffolk Sheep Society Secretary.

The Pair of Ram Lambs went to James Rooney’s Benwiskin Flock, followed in second by John Martin’s Duncormick flock and 3rd to Willie Gleeson’s Wexfo Flock. Ram lambs were also popular in the ring averaging 1,010gns.

The New Breeders class saw Jack Walsh of the Bullaun Flock take first with his ewe lamb followed by Ita Gleeson’s Ring of Hook Flock in 2nd and James & Yvonne Walshe’s Gowla BT taking 3rd and Damien Clear’s Moorerow flock coming 4th. There was also great interest in the young handers Class, with our next generation of Irish Suffolk Sheep Society breeders displaying their enthusiasm for showing Suffolk Sheep. Well done to Damien Clear (Moorerow flock), Ita Gleeson (Ring of Hook), Anna Martin (Duncormick) and Jack Walsh (Bullaun Flock)

Society Chairperson Pat Lynch thanked all the breeders for an excellent show of sheep. He wished the purchaser’s every success in particular the new breeders who accounted for many of the female sales. He paid tribute to all who made the day possible and acknowledge the huge effort it takes to organise such a successful Sale which achieved an 84% clearance with very strong averages in all classes. Pat acknowledged all the commercial farmers both new and repeat customers for supporting our society sale and wished them a successful breeding season.

Richard Moore made a presentation to our retiring Secretary Anne Mitchell and thanked her for her many decades of work for the Suffolk Sheep Breed. Richard also remembered Anne’s late husband John Joe. In conclusion Pat Lynch extended sincere thanks to our judge Barry Murphy of the Murbro Flock, our sponsors, Michael Harty and his team in Roscrea Mart, auctioneer George Candler and all who helped on the day from inspectors, stewards, and also the members who insured the flow of sheep into and from the sales ring. Roscrea Mart also made a presentation to Anne Mitchell thanking her for many years of service to the Suffolk Sheep Breed in Ireland. Pat finished by highlighting the importance of our new breeders and young handlers, as they are the key to the continued regeneration of our society.