Irish Moiled centenary year national show at Antrim
The Centenary N. Ireland Irish Moiled Cattle Society national show held at Antrim show attracted an outstanding number of well-turned-out Moilies from breeders across N. Ireland, creating a spectacular display of Irish Moiled cattle. The judge this year was Irish Moiled Cattle Society chairperson, Dan Bull from Drumfrieshire. All the classes throughout, had Irish Moilies which oozed exceptional quality, but it was the senior cow class that had the eventual senior championship winners and the overall supreme championship winners.
The 6-year-old cow from Rachel Armour of Maghera, Co. Londonderry, Tully Talulah with a heifer calf Beagh Talulah Ivy at foot won 1st prize in the cow class, then won the senior championship title before being crowned the overall supreme Irish Moiled centenary national champion. Tully Talulah was bred by Wilbert and Mary Forsythe of Portglenone, Co. Antrim and is no stranger to the showring, her most notable success was at Balmoral show 2025 winning reserve overall breed champion. Beagh Talulah Ivy in the largest class of the day, the heifer calf class won 2nd prize behind the eventual calf champion.
Hot on the heels of the overall champion, was the 2nd placed senior cow, exhibited by N & M Moilies (Nigel Edwards and Michelle McCauley) based at Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, a homebred 3-year 2nd calver cow Burren Royal Pandora with a 6-month-old heifer calf at foot, Burren Lady Pandora went on to win reserve senior champion and then reserve overall supreme champion. Again, another cow with a decorative showing history, Royal Pandora’s most recent success being Balmoral 2026 breed champion. Burren Lady Pandora as a stand alone won 1st place in the highly contested heifer calf class and then went on to be crowned calf champion. N & M Moilies had also success with their junior bull exhibit, Cloonglas Eden bred by Sheamie Heverin of Ballina, Co. Mayo, winning his class and then went on to be crowned reserve junior champion.
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
The junior championship title was won by Brian O’Kane of Martinstown, Co. Antrim with the homebred junior heifer winner, Ravelglen Emerald 875. Brian O’Kane had further success when his homebred 1st prize bull calf, Ravelglen Shay won reserve calf champion. Brian’s success did not stop there, when he won 1st prize with his homebred senior heifer, Ravelglen Ramona 584, 1st prize in the senior bull class with Killua Hermes, bred by Killua Castle, kells, Co. Meath and also collected 1st prize in the pair class with 2 very young, very cute speckled roan coloured heifer calves.
JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJ
The standard of all the entries in the Irish Moiled classes was one of the highest that the judge Dan Bull had seen out at a show and with this being the centenary year of the Irish Moiled herdbook made it extra special, it was a credit to the breeders on the standard of quality and presentation of Irish Moiled cattle put forward. Ryan and Caroline Maxwell of Keady, Co. Armagh took 2nd prize in the senior heifer class, 2nd prize in the junior bull class and 2nd prize in the pairs class. Mervyn, Rachael and Sommer Garrett of Islandmagee, Co. Antrim took 3rd prize and 4th price with their cows, and 3rd and 5th prize in the heifer calf class and Sommer winning the young handler champion award. Andrew McConnell and Lauren McKillen of Broughshane, Co.Antrim took 4th place in senior heifer class.
ggggggggggggg
hhhhhhhhhhhh
It was very heartsome, for both breeders and onlookers from around the showring seeing one of the biggest displays of young handlers out in the Irish Moiled young handlers’ class. All the young handlers were well turned out and showcased the Irish Moiled’s perfectly to the onlookers at Antrim Show. It was noted the delight from the claps and chuckles from around the ring at the young people’s enthusiasm and even the answers given during the commentary. It was great to see the older Irish Moiled breeders passing on their knowledge and wisdom to the young breeders especially with it being the centenary year of the Irish Moiled herdbook. The judge Dan Bull had his work cut out to choose his final three out of the group of very enthusiastic young people. The very worthy winner and champion young handler went to nine-year-old Sommer Garrett from Islandmagee, Co. Antrim with her much adored cow Ravelglen Mary. Reserve champion young handler went to 8-year-old Ruby Delaney from Moira, Co. Down with Burren Lady Pandora and 2nd reserve champion young handler going to Douglas Delaney from Moira, Co. Down with Magheratimpany Sophie.
Judge, Dan Bull made in his final overall comments, how delighted and full of praise for the young handlers, the high standard in their handling, presentation and knowledge of the Irish Moiled breed, commenting further that the breed’s future is in very safe hands.
hhhhhhhhhhhh
ggggggggggggg
On behalf of the Irish Moiled Cattle Society, we would like to thank Antrim Show cattle committee on a well organised show, Maggie McQuisten for her excellent commentary during the showing of the Irish Moiled classes, the stewards Robert and Amy Davis, the sponsors, Fane Valley, Ulster Bank, Moyletra Moileds and Laurel View Farm. Also, thanks to Anthony and Claire Gilsenan for manning the Society stand and to the judge Dan Bull and to all the Irish moiled exhibitors and spectators. A special word of thanks to Photography by Tara who has captured a very special year in the history of the Irish Moileds and of course to all other people who took photos and short videos on the day, thank you.
Judges’ comments…. Wow, what a cracking display of Moilies, strength and depth of quality throughout the lines, there’s not enough superlatives to express how honoured and privileged I am to be judging here. Really great to see so many cattle forward, thank you to all exhibitors and supporters involved. All the classes put forward were full of quality cattle. My first class of senior cows was of animals of a tremendously high standard with the top two being of different types. I chose Rachel Armour’s cow, Tully Talulah over N&M Moilies cow, Burren Royal Pandora, in my eyes being a more modern type of animal, but there was not much in it at all, so these two went through the day together taking the top two spots in the cow class, then the senior championship, then the female championship and finally the overall championship. Calf champion went to N&M Moilies with the calf at foot. In the senior heifer class, it was good to see 2-year-olds with calves at foot with Brian O’kane’s heifer coming out on top in that class. Brian O’Kane’s team of cattle did well which included my senior bull winner, my bull calf winner and a superb junior heifer which got 1st in her class, and I tapped out as my junior champion. N&M Moilies exhibited a superb 16-month-old bull which I tapped out as my reserve junior champion. But credit must be given to all exhibitors for bringing out a wonderful show of cattle. To cap the day off it was great to see the future of the Irish moiled cattle on display, with such enthusiastic and dedicated young handlers, they done themselves and us all very proud.
Reults
Cow class
1st Rachel Armour – Tully Talulah
2nd N & M Moilies – Burren Royal Pandora
3rd M & R Garrett – Ravelglen Bidi
4th M & R Garrett – Ravelglen Mary 201
Senior Heifer class
1st Brian O’Kane – Ravelglen Ramona 584
2nd R & C Maxwell – Magheratimpany Delilah
3rd Brian O’Kane – Ravelglen Ramona 2 654
4th Laura McKillen – Sommerville Suki
Junior heifer class
1st Brian O’Kane – Ravelglen Emerald 875
Senior bull class
1st Brian O’Kane – Killua Hermes
Junior bull class
1st N & M Moilies – Cloonglas Eden
2nd R & C Maxwell – Beechmount Austin
Heifer calf class
1st N & M Moilies – Burren Lady Pandora
2nd Rachel Armour – Beagh Talulah Ivy
3rd M & R Garrett – Sommerville Violet 3043
4th Brian O’Kane – Ravelglen Ramona 4 074
Bull calf class
1st Brian O’Kane – Ravelglen Shay
Pairs class
1st Brian O’Kane
2nd R & C Maxwell
Young handler
Champion; Sommer Garrett
Reserve champion; Ruby Delaney
2nd Reserve champion; Douglas Delaney
Calf championship
Champion – N & M Moilies – Burren Lady Pandora
Reserve Champion – Brian O’Kane – Ravelglen Shay
Junior championship
Champion – Brian O’Kane – Ravelglen Emerald 875
Reserve Champion – N & M Moilies – Cloonglas Eden
Senior championship
Champion – Rachel Armour – Tully Talulah
Reserve Champion – N & M Moilies –Burren Royal Pandora
Overall championship
Champion – Rachel Armour – Tully Talulah
Reserve Champion – N & M Moilies –Burren Royal Pandora