Rachel Maya Gallagher, Irish Farmers Journal Journalist Profile

Articles

Busy breeding season continues on Tullamore Farm

1 week ago | farmersjournal.ie | Rachel Maya Gallagher

It has been another busy week of breeding on Tullamore Farm. Four out of the 30 of the synchronised heifers repeated this week and were AI’d again. Shaun made the most of the good weather and got the batch of 2025 born calves in to give them their Bovipast booster and they also received a mineral drench and a coccidiosis drench.
An evening to remember for 2025 FBD National Hall of Fame Award winners

1 week ago | farmersjournal.ie | Rachel Maya Gallagher

A large crowd gathered in the Sheraton Hotel, Athlone, for the 21st FBD National Hall of Fame Awards, an event that has grown continuously since its establishment, with a total of 25 winners this year from across 15 counties. CEO of the FBD Hall of Fame Awards, Michael Flanagan started off the ceremony by thanking all of the marvellous people within the bovine, equine and ovine industries for such fantastic dedication and commitment to their breeds.
Ewe with twin lambs top weekly Stranorlar sheep sale at €460

1 week ago | farmersjournal.ie | Rachel Maya Gallagher

There was an entry of just under 600 sheep in Stranorlar Livestock Mart on Thursday evening for the weekly sheep sale. Ringside and online bidding was lively, leading to a strong clearance rate of 98%. The liveliest and largest section of the sale was the ewe and lamb section, where a ewe with twin lambs topped the sale for €460. The remainder of the consignment sold from €200 to €415, depending on lamb strength and litter size.
Irish Blue Texel Sheep Society open day set to take place in Carlow

2 weeks ago | farmersjournal.ie | Rachel Maya Gallagher

On Saturday 10 May, the Irish Blue Sheep Society is gearing up to hold its annual open day. The open day will be held on the farm of Nigel Hogan in Rathnashannagh, Co Carlow, R93 VF86. The day will start at 10am and include a full tour of the Diamond Blue Texel and Dassenkop pedigree flocks, as well as the Hogan flock of 200 Borris-type commercial ewes with their Blue Texel- and Dassenkop-sired lambs at foot.
Ewe lamb tops Springhill Charollais Production Sale at 5,650gns

2 weeks ago | farmersjournal.ie | Rachel Maya Gallagher

Taking Marteye by storm over the weekend was Graham Fosters, Springhill Charollais Production sale. This highly anticipated sale of females drew in huge interest from across Ireland and the UK. As the sale drew to a close bidding was rampant leading to an outstanding average of 1,450gns (€1,792) being achieved. It was WLK08361, a standout out ewe lamb that took the sale by storm flying to 5,650gns (€6,981) in a frenzy of final bids.
Sparklers' prices shine at 3,200gns

2 weeks ago | farmersjournal.ie | Rachel Maya Gallagher

The Springtime Sparklers sale has become a staple in pedigree sheep breeders’ diaries over the past number of years, with buyers travelling the length and breadth of Ireland and the UK annually. Bids flowed in from a packed ringside in Beattie’s Pedigree Centre and online bidding also remained rapid throughout the sale. The sale was topped at 3,200gns (€3,957) by a standout Blue Texel ewe lamb from Allen Shortt and Samantha Allen’s well-known Derg flock.
Springhill Charollais Production Sale tops at 5,650gns

2 weeks ago | farmersjournal.ie | Rachel Maya Gallagher

Taking MartEye by storm over the weekend was Graham Foster’s Springhill Charollais Production sale that ran from the Friday to Sunday, 25 to 28 April. This highly anticipated sale of females drew in huge interest from across Ireland and the UK. As the sale drew to a close, bidding was rampant leading to an outstanding average of 1,450gns (€1,792) being achieved. It was WLK08361, a stand-out ewe lamb that took the sale by storm, flying to 5,650gns (€6,981) in a frenzy of final bids.
Ewe lamb top Springhill Charollais Production Sale at 5,650gns

2 weeks ago | farmersjournal.ie | Rachel Maya Gallagher

Taking Marteye by storm over the weekend was Graham Fosters, Springhill Charollais Production sale. This highly anticipated sale of females drew in huge interest from across Ireland and the UK. As the sale drew to a close bidding was rampant leading to an outstanding average of 1,450gns (€1,792) being achieved. It was WLK08361, a standout out ewe lamb that took the sale by storm flying to 5,650gns (€6,981) in a frenzy of final bids.
Full-time pedigree sheep farming paying off for Priestley

2 weeks ago | farmersjournal.ie | Rachel Maya Gallagher

In the townland of Seaforde in Co Down Mark Priestley runs the well-known Limestone and Seaforde pedigree sheep flock. The farm is made up of just under 150 acres, with 120 acres of rented land and the rest owned. Here Priestley has been farming full-time since May 2018. Up until 2018, he worked in the UK on two of the UK’s most well-known pedigree sheep flocks Sportsmans and Millinbank.
Breeding pedigree sheep is a family affair at Bodoney

3 weeks ago | farmersjournal.ie | Rachel Maya Gallagher

Farming just outside the town of Trillick in County Tyrone is Andrew McCutcheon and his sons Jamie, Jaden, Lewis, Dale and Ritson. Together they run the well-known Bodoney Beltex, Badgerface and Dutch Spotted flocks. The pedigree flock is made up of 60 Beltex ewes, 15 Badgerface ewes and three Dutch Spotted ewes. Alongside the pedigree flock ,they also run a flock of 200 commercial ewes and 30 suckler cows.