30/08/2026
🏆 BALLINAKILL FLOCK CROWN A MEMORABLE YEAR WITH A PREMIER SALE TO REMEMBER! 🐑
What a way to cap off a truly memorable year for John Maher and the Ballinakill team!
John, alongside son JJ and nephew Tómas, enjoyed an outstanding Premier Show & Sale at Tullamore, claiming an incredible Championship clean sweep before going on to achieve a fantastic sale average.
The Ballinakill team sold 11 sheep to an average of €1,360, but it was their success in the show ring that really set the day alight.
🏆 Shearling Ram Champion – Ballinakill Liverpool
🏆 Ram Lamb Champion – Ballinakill Marvel
🏆 Lambplus Ram Lamb Champion – Ballinakill Maximus
🏆 Shearling Ewe Champion – Ballinakill Lotus
🏆 Male Champion – Ballinakill Liverpool
🥈 Reserve Male Champion – Ballinakill Marvel
🏆 Female Champion – Ballinakill Lotus
🏆 SUPREME CHAMPION – Ballinakill Lotus
🥈 RESERVE SUPREME CHAMPION – Ballinakill Liverpool
And the success continued in the sales ring.
💰 Lotus, the Supreme Champion shearling ewe, sired by Rochdale Head Over Heels, sold for €2,200 to Brian Mathews, Co. Offaly.
💰 Liverpool, the Reserve Supreme Champion shearling ram, also by Rochdale Head Over Heels, made €2,200, selling to Chris Johnston.
💰 Ballinakill Marvel, Ram Lamb Champion and Reserve Male Champion, sold for €1,500 to Damien Quinn, Co. Westmeath.
💰 Ballinakill Maximus, winner of the Lambplus Ram Lamb class, made an impressive €2,100, selling to Brian Mathews.
Other notable Ballinakill prices included:
• Ballinakill Monster – €1,400 to Damien Quinn Co. Westmeath .
• Ballinakill Mega, 2nd prize ewe lamb – €1,050 to Sean & Paul McCartney, Co. Laois
👏 Cathal Tuohy, Co. Galway, continued his own excellent year by taking the Reserve Female Champion title with his 1st prize ewe lamb, sired by Shanderg Loki, which later sold to Chris Johnston. 👏Aeron James , Co. Waterford . Claimed the Senior Ram title with Quarry mount Kindred sired by Lurg Grand Slam selling to Gerry O' Boyle. Co. Roscommon.
💶 STRONG TRADE THROUGHOUT THE SALE
Despite store lamb prices, grass supplies and the weather forecast continuing to influence trade across the country, there were plenty of standout prices throughout the day.
🐑 Summerfield Mayo Magic, Lot 47, from Amy Ryan & Shane O’Brien, Co. Mayo, sold for €1,400 to John Maher.
🐏 Beetles Luke Skywalker, Lot 24, a hogget ram from Sean & Paul McCartney, made €1,100, selling to Jarlath & Shane Walsh, Co. Galway.
🐑 Hugh O’Connor, Co. Meath, sold shearling rams to a top of €900.
🐑 Pat O’Malley, Co. Galway, averaged an impressive €825 for his pen of shearling rams.
🏆 FULL SHOW RESULTS
Supreme Champion: Lot 71
Reserve Supreme Champion: Lot 18
Female Champion: Lot 71
Reserve Female Champion: Lot 85
Male Champion: Lot 18
Reserve Male Champion: Lot 49
Class 1 – Senior Ram
🥇 1st – Lot 1
Class 2 – Shearling Ram
🥇 1st – Lot 18
🥈 2nd – Lot 13
🥉 3rd – Lot 24
4th – Lot 20
5th – Lot 16
6th – Lot 32
Class 3 – Ram Lamb
🥇 1st – Lot 49
🥈 2nd – Lot 51
🥉 3rd – Lot 39
4th – Lot 59
5th – Lot 44
6th – Lot 37
Class 4 – Lambplus Ram Lamb
🥇 1st – Lot 57
🥈 2nd – Lot 36
🥉 3rd – Lot 47
4th – Lot 50
5th – Lot 56
6th – Lot 43
Class 5 – Shearling Ewe
🥇 1st – Lot 71
🥈 2nd – Lot 73
🥉 3rd – Lot 60
4th – Lot 77
5th – Lot 61
6th – Lot 64
Class 6 – Ewe Lamb
🥇 1st – Lot 85
🥈 2nd – Lot 82
🥉 3rd – Lot 86
4th – Lot 83
5th – Lot 78
6th – Lot 84
👏 The Belgian Beltex Breeders Society would like to congratulate John, JJ, Tómas and the entire Ballinakill team on an exceptional day's showing and selling.
A huge thank you also goes to Judge Chris Johnston of the Johnstown Flock, who did a stellar job judging six extremely competitive classes, as well as our inspectors and all the staff at Tullamore Mart for their work in making the Premier Show & Sale such a success.
🐑 A championship performance. A tremendous sale. And a fitting way to finish a remarkable year for Ballinakill.
The original double muscle breed — and still the best.
