West of Ireland Registered Pedigree Suffolk Sheep Breeders Club 50th anniversary
FOUNDED in 1971, the West of Ireland Registered Pedigree Suffolk Sheep Breeders Club is celebrating 50 years this year.
The western region has the greatest volume of breeding ewes in the country and closely associated with many flocks over the years has been the Suffolk ram and Suffolk cross-bred ewes.
Western farmers were quick to realise the values of the breed. Their hardiness, proliferacy, rapid growth rates, meat quality and ease of husbandry has made them the most popular finishing breed in the country.
Formed in 1971 to produce and promote quality pedigree stock for the western farmer and beyond, today the club boasts numerous members with many young, vibrant breeders keen to produce the best quality Suffolks possible. Flocks are built using the top genetics available to Irish breeders. The pedigree lines held by all the breeders reflect a huge personal investment to put the west of Ireland club Suffolks at the top of the breeding sales all around Ireland.
Club members are drawn from counties Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon and Longford. Mayo has a very active membership, right across the county, including breeders James Cuffe, Ballina, Nathan and Aaron Durcan, Bonniconlon, Michael Hastings, Westport, Charles and Dylan Hughes, Westport, Michael and Marie Jennings, Hollymount, Martin Keane, Belmullet, Teresa and Enda McGeever, Swinford, Richard Noone, Ballina, Brian and Pat McDonnell, Westport, and Flynn O'Donnell, who is based in Belmullet.
Sales are held from early August through to October but private viewings and sales are always welcome by the breeders.
These ram sales are spread throughout the major marts in the west, with many breeders producing breeders' ram lambs and ewe lambs for south of Ireland premier sales.
The club's premier show and sale is held in Roscommon annually but other sales move around through Mayo, Galway and Sligo, with some members also attending a multi-breed sale - the Big Boy Ram Sale - in Carrick-on-Shannon each year.
Many members take part annually in both the National Suffolk Championships held as part of the NSBA Championships and the South of Ireland Premier Show and Sale, held annually in Blessington. In 2020, club member Kenneth Bailey had the female champion at the southern premier sale.
A number of members also regularly compete in the agricultural show circuit, often bringing home the Supreme Interbreed Champion of the Show with their top quality Suffolks. Mayo breeders have achieved top prices at club sales and continue to play a significant role within the club.
In addition to all this, the club also organises championships, information events, flock visits and support for new members, who are always welcome.
As well as the local club's anniversary, breeders are also celebrating the Suffolk Sheep Society reaching the incredible milestone of 135 years since its foundation, making it one of the oldest and most established breeds globally.