George Wilkinson Judge, Aaron Myles Reserve Champion, Tom Kenny Overall Champion & Mark O’Rourke Growvite
The sun shone down on the Growvite Texel All Ireland Show in Athlone on Sunday, 21 July. Judging was carried out by George Wilkinson of the Arkle Texel flock in England.
The Growvite All Ireland opened with a strong Aged Ram class, which was won by John and Michael Donohoe with “Seaforde Hezza Lord,” a son of Auldhouseburn Gazza.
The Aged Ewe class featured an exceptional display of sheep, with David Craig taking first place with “HBN2302933,” a daughter of Mellor Vale Déjà Vu.
In the Shearling Ram class, which showcased animals with exceptional power and substance, Martin and Ciara Walsh secured first place with their purchase from the 2025 Blessington sale, sired by Silverhill Helpful. This ram is a prime example of the quality expected at the upcoming Blessington sale on 14 and 15 August.
The Shearling Ewe class was one of the largest of the day. The winner was Neville Myles, presenting a daughter of Glenside Guardsman out of NVI2302690, who was the 2024 All Ireland Champion.
The lamb classes began with the Novice Ram class, won by Adam Heffernan with “Tullig Jagerbomb,” a son of Duncryne Hakuna Matata. This ram also placed second in the Open class and is entered for the Blessington Premier Sale.
The Open Senior Ram class was among the strongest of the day. First place went to “Kenny’s Jackpot,” a son of Knockhill I’m The Man, purchased at the Blessington Premier Sale last year for €3,000. This lamb, praised by the judge for his power, body and correctness, was named Male Champion and Overall Champion. He is also entered for the upcoming August sale in Blessington.
The Junior Ram class was won by John Redmond with “RJG2607916,” a son of the 2023 All Ireland Champion, Drumcon His Royal Highness. This lamb is a maternal brother to the 2023 Reserve Male Champion and matched his brother’s achievement by taking the Reserve Male Champion title. He will also be presented at the Premier Sale in August.
In the Senior Ewe Lamb class, Jimmy Garrvin secured first place with a daughter of Hillcrest Ironman, out of the first-prize ewe lamb from the 2024 National Championships.
The Junior Ewe Lamb class was won by John Redmond with a daughter of Drumcon His Royal Highness and Knockhill Fairlady. This lamb is a sister to both last year’s record-priced ewe lamb and the aforementioned “Knockhill I’m The Man.”
The Novice Ewe Lamb class produced the Reserve Female Champion: a daughter of the Premier Sale purchase “Silverhill Handson,” out of FSE2401533, who was the Female Champion at the second Premier in Carnaross in 2024. James Kelly Jnr’s success here demonstrated the value of buying locally.
Results Summary
Aged Ram Class
- John and Michael Donohoe – Seaforde Hezza Lord
- A and P O’Keeffe – Annakisha Hunter
- James Kelly – Silver hill Handsome
- David Craig – Abbeyview Honda 50
- John and Mary Gallagher – Oberstown Herrara
Aged Ewe Class
- David Craig – HBN2302933
- Neville Myles – NVI2302677
- James Kelly – SWF 220195
- Andrew Cox – BQU2300910
- Stuart Dorran – SZE 2400997
- David Craig – DXH2400147
Shearling Ram
- Martin Walsh – Greenhill Incredible
- Patrick Connelly – Enniscrone Inspector Gadget
- A and P O’Keeffe – Annakisha Indigo
- Malachy Hand – Brideswell Ideal
- Tom Kenny – Oberstown Imperial King
- A and P O’Keeffe – Annakisha Isebeail
Shearling Ewes
- Neville Myles – NVI2502959
- A and P O’Keeffe – OKI2507281
- Nicola Fetherstone – OFH2502590
- John Redmond – RJG2507745
- Tom Kenny Jnr – TKH2500140
- Pat Lyons – LVF2501065
Novice Ram Lambs
- Adam Heffernan – AHE2603568
- Josh Browne BWJ2600034
- Michael Haverty HHE2604365
- Josh Browne BWJ2600028
- Adam Heffernan AHE2603562
- Kiernan Finnarty KFJ2603148
Open Ram Lamb
- Tom Kenny Jnr – TKH2600205
- Adam Heffernan AHE2603568
- Neville Myles NVI2603117
- James Murphy JPH204655
- Fergal O’Se FSE2601677
- Jimmy Garvin GBE2603285
Junior Ram Lamb
- John Redmond – RJG2607916
- Brian Connelly BSF2602248
- Patrick Joyce PJE2600519
- Adam Heffernan AHE2603584
- Arron Myles MYE2601616
- Stuart Dorran IE044205501135B
Senior Ewe Lamb
- Jimmy Garrvin – GBE2603266
- Brian Connelly BSF2602234
- Neville Myles NVI2603159
- Neville Myles NVI260314
- A and P O’Keeffe OKI2607537
- Tom Kenny Jnr TKH2600210
Junior Ewe Lamb
- John Redmond – RJG2607903
- James Murphy JPH2604681
- James Murphy JPH2604689
- Thomas Kenny KTE2603854
- Gavin and Enda Quirke EQI2607219
- Malachy Hand YMH2607514
Novice Ewe Lamb
- Jimmy Kelly – ILF2601472
- Adam Heffernan AHE2603567
- Adam Heffernan AHE2603560
- Luke Roland AHH2600665
- Mark Dolan AWF2600545
- Mark Dolan AWF2600655
Championship Results
- Female Champion: Neville Myles (Shearling Ewe NVI2502959)
- Reserve Female Champion: Jimmy Kelly (Novice Ewe Lamb ILF2601472)
- Male Champion: Tom Kenny Jnr (Senior Ram Lamb TKH2600205)
- Reserve Male Champion: John Redmond (Junior Ram Lamb RJG2607916)
- Overall Champion: Thomas Kenny Jnr (TKH2600205)
- Reserve Overall Champion: Neville Myles (NVI2502959)
