Irish Moiled breed is in good hands and has a future in modern farming systems
The response to the Online International Irish Moiled Cattle Show 2022 from breeders has again been incredible and the standard fantastic. There were over one hundred entries from all three constituencies in the haltered and non-haltered sections, breeders submitted three photos and a short video. With twenty classes to work through and eleven championships the judge, Dan Bull from Dumfriesshire, Scotland had a very busy time scrutinizing all the photos and videos put forward which he described as “difficult but a very pleasurable experience”.
The Irish Moiled, a cattle breed steeped in history, an Irish and UK native breed of cattle that is indigenous to the island of Ireland, has a very natural adaptability to thrive whatever the farming system is, means that the breed has a future that is promising and encouraging and it is down to the hard work put in from the Society and from the breeders in promoting and producing an animal that ticks all the boxes when it comes to farmers looking an easier kept breed.
For anyone wanting to purchase an Irish Moiled the Autumn Magnificent Moilie Online Timed Auction is taking place through auctioneers Harrison & Hetherington from 7pm on Tues 27th September concluding 7pm on 29TH September. It is necessary to register with H & H to be able to bid. There are many vendors that have taken the necessary action to secure the necessary approvals regarding the new BVD trade requirements to be able to export to the ROI. Several of the animals entered in the Magnificent Moilie Online Sale were also entered in the online show.
Burren Princess Pandora, a young 3-year-old, in-calf cow from N & M Moilies (Nigel Edwards & Michelle McCauley) based at Dungannon, Co. Tyrone was crowned overall supreme champion of champions. Burren Princess Pandora is sired by Castledale Maurice 2 EX94 and her dam is Curraghnakeely Pandora 7th EX94. Her dam was a very successful show animal having won many top accolades, which included overall haltered champion in the very first online show in 2020 when Burren Princess Pandora herself was the calf at foot, who also won haltered calf champion that year. Now in the 2022 Online Show this young cow, a tremendous example of the Irish Moiled breed, Burren Princess Pandora took 1st place in the haltered cow class, senior haltered champion, overall haltered champion before she took the overall title of overall supreme champion of champions.
Reserve overall supreme champion of champions went to Sam Smiley from Ballynahinch, Co. Down with Glassdrummond Cherry 45 recently classified in June 22 with overall score of EX94. The classifier was particularly impressed with her locomotion giving her a score of EX97 for legs and feet. Both her parents have been classified Excellent, her sire Glassdrummond Tom EX92 and her dam Glassdrummond Cherry 17th EX92. This very stylish cow cleaned up in the non-haltered section taking 1st in the cow class, winning senior non-haltered champion and overall non-haltered champion before taking the reserve supreme overall champion of champion’s spot. Many animals from the Glassdrummond Cherry cow family have been very successful at many shows throughout many years, but this is the first time Glassdrummond Cherry 45 had been entered in any competition, a great consistent breeding cow for her owner, producing 10 calves in her twelve years and presently has a bull calf at foot.
Reserve senior champion was won by Woodbine Casper EX97 bred by Ciara and James White Co. Wexford dam Glassdrummond Lily 18 VG88, sire Tully Jack EX92 now the main stock bull of the Ravelglen herd of Brian O’Kane, Martinstown, Ballymena. This powerful stock bull is the highest classified bull in the breed and has an array of winnings, the latest was in July when he was awarded the overall breed champion in the recent (NI) Irish Moiled Cattle Society National Show held at Randox Antrim Agricultural Show 2022.
Intermediate champion in the haltered section was won by Joe Boyce from Co. Limerick with Beechmount Lizzie who he purchased in last year’s Magnificent Moilie Online Auction from the renown Beechmount herd of Robert Boyle based in Millisle, Co. Down. This heifer is just fresh from showing in the live classes at the recent Tullamore show in August where she won overall breed Champion. Reserve intermediate champion in the haltered section went to Meencraig Cassie bred by Gerard McCloskey of Co. Derry/Londonderry and now owned by new and up and coming Irish Moiled breeder Odrahan O’Neill from Strabane, Co. Tyrone, this heifer has also won red rosettes this year at local agricultural shows in Northern Ireland.
Junior Champion in the haltered section went to N & M Moilies (Nigel Edwards & Michelle McCauley) with Curraghnakeely Sylvia 0563 this eye-catching young heifer won the prestigious title of not only Junior Champion but the even more prestigious title of Overall breed Champion at the RUAS, Balmoral Show in May 2022. It was this heifer who ended up being crowned reserve overall haltered champion in this year’s online show. Reserve Junior haltered champion went to a beautifully marked heifer Ravelglen Dolly 131 bred and owned by Brian O’Kane.
The haltered calf champion was won by a beautiful heifer calf Ravelglen Emerald 271 bred and owned by Brian O’Kane and reserve calf champion went to a well-made bull calf, Curraghnakeely Prudence exhibited by N & M Moilies (Nigel Edwards & Michelle McCauley).
Champion Pair was won by N & M Moilies with reserve champion pairs going to Joe Boyce.
Champion Young Handler was won by Hollie O’Rourke, Katesbridge, Co. Down with reserve champion young handler going to Shane Boyce from Co. Limerick.
Non-Haltered section
It was in the senior category of the non-haltered section, the cow class, which had one of the biggest classes of 21 entries that Judge Dan Bull choose not only his overall non haltered senior champion Curraghnakeely Cherry 45 but also his reserve senior champion Glassdrummond Cherry 111 both exceptional cows bred and owned by Sam Smiley of Ballynahinch, Co. Down.
The intermediate non haltered champion was won by a smart heifer – Beechmount Babs owned and bred by Robert Boyle, Millisle. Reserve intermediate champion went to correct and well-balanced young bull Ardfert Jackal bred exhibited by N & M Moilies (Nigel Edwards & Michelle McCauley)
Junior Champion in the non-haltered section was won by a powerful, perfectly balanced heifer, Curraghnakeely Sylvia 0576 exhibited by N & M Moilies (Nigel Edwards & Michelle McCauley) she went on to win the overall reserve non- haltered champion. Another strong and fine example of the breed was Hollymount Charlotte who took reserve junior champion owned by Robert Boyle.
Calf champion and reserve calf champion in the non-haltered section went to two beautifully marked and full of breed character calves – Beechmount Bernie (heifer calf) and Beechmount Harry (bull calf) both bred and owned by Robert Boyle.
Overall half-bred champion went to a heifer calf called ‘Rita’ that came from the Damoily herd owned by Tyrone Graham of Markethill, Co. Armagh.
Judges’ comments – Dan Bull
Congratulations to all that entered the show and thank you all for taking the effort to do so and making it a difficult but pleasurable experience in judging the tremendous array of animals forward.
Personally whatever pictures I take, they look nothing like the animals I am looking at!
The pictures, and especially the videos sent in vary very widely in capturing the animal at its best, as always, I have judged what is in front of me on the day.
All the animals’ forward states that the Irish Moiled breed is in good hands and has a future in modern farming practices.
I was looking for well balanced, structurally correct, length in areas such as plates and loins, depth of body, width of pins and hips, good locomotive and great Moilie character and colour in my placings of all the classes.
The two tremendous senior cow classes were packed with quality throughout and as you can see, it is from here that I found my supreme overall champion in Burren Princess Pandora, presented by N+M Moilies and also the reserve supreme overall champion the 12-year-old cow, Glassdrummond Cherry 45 from Sam Smiley, 2 completely different types of animals but both are wonderful examples of the breed.
Once again congratulations to all and thank you for allowing me to judge the show.
Anyone wishing to know more about the upcoming Magnificent Moilie Online Auction please follow the IMCS website, facebook or email breed secretary Gillian secretary@irishmoiledcattlesociety.com
Results
Haltered Section
Cow class
1st. N&M Moilies – Burren Princess Pandora
2nd. N&M Moilies – Curraghnakeely Sylvia 1st
3rd. Brian O’Kane – Braefield Rachel
Senior bull class
1st. Brian O’Kane – Woodbine Casper
Senior Champion; Burren Princess Pandora
Reserve Senior Champion; Woodbine Casper
Intermediate Heifer class
1st. Joe Boyce – Beechmount Lizzie
2nd. Odhran O’Neill – Meencraig Cassie
Intermediate Champion; Beechmount Lizzie
Reserve Intermediate Champion; Meencraig Cassie
Junior Heifer class
1st. N&M Moilies – Curraghnakeely Sylvia 0563
2nd. Brian O’Kane – Ravelglen Dolly
3rd. N&M Moilies – Curraghnakeely Pandora 0564
Junior bull class
1st. N&M Moilies – Curraghnakeely Rojo
2nd. Brain O’Kane – Glassdrummond Maestro
3rd. Derek Steen – Ballylinney Oscar
Junior Champion; Curraghnakeely Sylvia 0563
Reserve Junior Champion; Ravelglen Dolly
Heifer calf class
1st. Brian O’Kane – Ravelglen Emerald 271
2nd. N&M Moilies – Ballyreagh Lily 6757
3rd. Sam Smiley – Glassdrummond Cherry 127
Bull calf class
1st. N&M Moilies – Curraghnakeely Prudence
2nd. Brian O’Kane – Ravelglen Tadgh
3rd. Brian O’Kane – Ravelglen Earl
Calf Champion – Ravelglen Emerald
Reserve Calf Champion – Curraghnakeely Prudence
Champion Pair; N&M Moilies
Reserve Champion Pair; Joe Boyce
Champion Young Handler; Hollie O’Roarke (NI)
Reserve Champion Young Handler; Shane Boyce (ROI)
Overall Haltered Champion; Burren Princess Pandora
Reserve Overall Haltered Champion; Curraghnakeely Sylvia 0563
Non-Haltered Section
Cow class
1st. Sam Smiley – Glassdrummond Cherry 45
2nd. Sam Smiley Glassdrummond Cherry 111
3rd. N&M Moilies – Curraghnakeely Bluebell 0482
4th. N&M Moilies – Curraghnakeely Cherry 0439
5th. Robert Boyle – Clandeboye louisa
6th. Eimer McGrath – Woodbine Daisy
7th. Dermot Gardiner – Glassdrummond Cherry 41
Senior bull class
1st. Robert Boyle – Ballylinney Harry
2nd Sam Smiley – Curraghnakeely Masterpiece
Senior Champion; Glassdrummond Cherry 45
Reserve Senior champion; Glassdrummond Cherry 111
Intermediate Heifer class
1st. Robert Boyle – Beechmount Babs
2nd. Gerald McCloskey – Meencaig Maureen 2
3rd. N&M Moilies – Curraghnakeely Bessie 0556
Intermediate Bull class
1st. N&M Moilies – Ardfert Jackal
Intermediate Champion; Beechmount Babs
Reserve Intermediate Champion; Ardfert Jackal
Junior Heifer class
1st. N&M Moilies – Curraghnakeely Sylvia 0576
2nd Robert Boyle – Hollymount Charlotte
3rd. Brian O’Kane – Ravelglen Ramona 2
Junior Champion; Curraghnakeely Sylvia 0576
Reserve Junior Champion; Hollymount Charlotte
Heifer calf class
1st. Robert boyle – Beechmount Bernie
2nd N&M Moilies – Curraghnakeely Sylvia 0594
3rd. Dermot Gardiner – Ballycreggy Cherry 2
Bull calf class
1st Robert Boyle – Beechmount Harry
2nd N&M Moilies – Curraghnakeely Sylvester
3rd. Nathalie Chitty – Betton Barney
Calf Champion; Beechmount Bernie
Reserve Calf Champion; Beechmount Harry
Half-Bred Heifer Calf class
1st. Tyrone Graham – Rita
Half-Bred Champion – Rita
Overall Non-Haltered Champion; Glassdrummond Cherry 45
Reserve Overall Haltered Champion; Curraghnakeely Sylvia 0576
Supreme Overall Champion of Champions; Burren Princess Pandora
Reserve Supreme Overall Champion of Champions; Glassrummond Cherry 45