Bygone Days: Eire Agri Ministry pays £147 for top Galloway bull at Ballymena sale (1956)

The price, it was stated, was a record for Ireland for Galloway bull and also record for the sale at Ballymena. There was also much intere

The Eire Ministry also purchased at 120 guineas a Galloway bull, Norval Collin, owned by Mr John Crawford, Moorfields, Co Antrim.

Entries at the show and sale totalled 60 - “a slight increase compared with last year”.

The News Letter noted: “There was keen competition in the Galloway section. Ten premiums were awarded at the show. Representatives of the Northern Ireland and Eire Ministries of Agriculture were present.”

Awards included the following:

List of awards, pure bred Galloway bull, calved between September 1, 1954, and February 28, 1955 - 1, John A Crawford, Moorflelds, Norval of Collin; 2, John Mulvenna, Glenarm, Goodness of Gowkstown; 3, James Millar, Aughafatten, Aughanure Guardsman.

Pedigree Galloway bull, calved on or after March 1, 1955 – 1, John Bell. Loughconnolly, Hallmark of Bogstown; 2, Andrew Hunter, Glenarm, Hero 3rd of Carncastle; 3, William Thompson, Broughshane, Statesman 5th of Buckna.

Pedigree Friesian bull, calved between January 1, 1954, and June 30, 1955 – 1, David Purvis, Magherafelt Coolshinney Dutchman; 2, W J Craig. Gracehill Dalriada Brigand 21st; 3, W Smyth, Armoy, Laydeside Premier.

Non-pedigree Shorthorn bull, calved September 1, 1954, and March 15, 1955 - 1, A McIlrath, Kilrea, Hazelpark Royal Prince; 2, J K Hanna, Glarryford, Crossview Dandy; 3. Hugh O’Loan, Newtowncrommelin, Marksman.

Non-pedigree Shorthorn bull, calved on or after March 15, 1955 - 1, Robert J Gillespie, Portglenone; 2, Thomas Workman, Garvagh; 3, James Marshall, Portglenone, Beechmount Boxer.

Principal prices,Galloways: John Hall, Broughshane, Hallmark of Bogstown to Eire Department of Agriculture, 140gns; John A Crawford, Moorfields, Norval Collin to Eire Department of Agriculture, 120gns; Andrew Hunter, Rambler 5th of Carncastle to Lord O'Neill, Shane's Castle, Randalstown, 105gns; John Mulvenna’s Goodness of Gowkstown to Patrick McAuley, Corlane, Cushendall, 105gns; A Hunter’s Hero 3rd of Carncastle to James McHenry, Glenariff, 102gns; J Millar's Aughanure Guardsman to John Owen, Ballynulto, Broughshane, 86gns; A C Adams's Rocavan Excel to Eire Department of Agriculture, 85gns; James Millar's Aughanure Grenadier to Eire Department of Agriculture, 80gns; A P Cameron, Ballyminstra, Gracehill, Rocavan Control to John Mitchell, Moorefields, 70gns; W Thompson's Statesman 5th of Buckna to James Stewart, Cammoney, 68gns; John Mulvenna’s Idol of Gowkstown to Samuel Caldwell, Ballydonnelly. Rasharkin, 66gns; representatives of D White, Seldom Seen to Charles McDonald, Kilmore, Glenariff, 66gns; John Mulvenna's Endeavour of Gowkstown to J McKay, Ballygawn, Cairncastle, 63gns; W Thompson's Churchill 5th of Buckna to Robert Magill, Kilwaughter, 60gns; representatives of D White to G S McMillan, Browndodd, Doagh, 60gns; S C Adams, Rocavan Nero 2nd to H D Cupples, Ballyreagh, Clough, 60gns. Lowest price paid was 37gns.

Ayrshires - Robert Dick, Beechgrove, Ahoghill to W McKay, Fernagh. Rasharkin. 37gns.

Friesians - W Smyth. Armoy, to Johnston Connor, Carrickfergus, 65gns; W J Craig, Billhead, Gracehill to W Wilson, Deerpark, Glenarm. 57gns; John Rainey, Randalstown. to James Kearney, Ballymena, 51gns.

Shorthorns - James McMaster, Ballycloughan, Broughshane, to Thomas Dick, Ballycaston, Ballyclare, 46 gns; J K Hanna's Crosaview Dandy to S McKeown, Drumraw, Portglenone, 54gns.