FARMING & RURAL LIVING Local TidyTowns groups receive awards

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Local groups received their SuperValu TidyTowns awards for 2022 at a prize-giving ceremony in Kilronan Castle, Co.

Roscommon recently.

Among the award winners, which were announced in October of last year, Keadue won the overall regional title as well as the county award for Roscommon, while Castlecoote was ‘highly commended’, Cloontuskert was ‘commended’ and Moore took home the Endeavour award.

Ballintubber was the national Heritage award winner while Kilteevan was recognised in the Sustainable Development and Waters and Communities categories.

Roscommon joined Keadue as a gold medal winner while Castlecoote took silver, and Ballintubber and Cloontuskert took home bronze.

The prizes were presented by Deputy Frank Feighan on behalf of Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys, and Richard Lennon, regional manager with SuperValu.

Deputy Feighan congratulated the winners and made reference to the recent launch of the 2023 SuperValu TidyTowns competition, which this year celebrates 65 years of environmental and community initiatives.

Deputy Feighan said: “I am delighted to be in a position to attend the awards on behalf of Minister Humphreys and I encourage committees to avail of the €1.4 million in grant funding that Minister Humphreys announced at the results of the 2022 competition last October.

“In recent years, thousands of individuals have volunteered with Tidy-

Castlerea MART WATCH

Larger numbers of stock presented for sale this week with increased numbers of weanlings for sale. Sellers availed of the strong price on offer with bulls peaking at €4.75 a kilo while the heifer weanlings topped out at €5.90 a kilo. The heifer ring noticed stores making up to €3.88 a kilo while the heavier lots made up to €2,150.

Meanwhile, the cow ring noticed the forward cows making up to €2,350 or €3.11 a kilo with a good number of cows on offer. Breeding stock, with increased numbers on offer, also saw a top price of €2,840 for a Limousin cow and her bull calf at foot. Springer cows made up to €1,790, and calves noticed a good clearance with lots making up to €340 and continentals making up to €410.

There were 150 bullocks on offer at our sale on April 3rd with lots making up to €2,510 and a good clearance taking place.

Sales continue at Castlerea Mart today (Thursday, April 13th) when we have our weekly sale of heifers, cows, calves, runners, and weanlings. All sales commence at 11 am.

Sample prices for heifers: Ch 385kgs €1420, Ch 375kgs €1390, Lm 415kgs €1200, Ch 385kgs €1420, Ch 345kgs €1340, Ch 495kgs €1840, Lm 475kgs €1690, Ch 620kgs €2150, Ch 590kgs €2090, Lm 560kgs €1890.

Dry cows: Ch 755kgs €2350, Lm 710kgs €2130, Lm 670kgs €2030, AA 715kgs €2080, Sim 690kgs €1990, Ch 625kgs €1880, Fr 410kgs €690, Her 545kgs €1420, Fr 590kgs €1360.

Weanling bulls: Ch 275kgs €1260, Lm 295kgs €1160, Lm 285kgs €1110, Ch 375kgs €1500, Ch 345kgs €1470, Ch 385kgs €1490, AA 335kgs €1200, Ch 325kgs €1300, Lm 445kgs €1380.

Weanling heifers: BBx 275kgs €1500, Lm 285kgs €1280, BA 205kgs €1210, AA 290kgs €980, AA 265kgs €930, Lm 350kgs €1720, Ch 330kgs €1380, Lm 368kgs €1230, Ch 315kgs €1150.

Town groups and in doing so have made our country a place that we can all be proud of.

“I have such admiration for the volunteers from the eight counties in the North West and West region and for all the volunteers who have put their shoulder to the wheel in the last 65 years to make our communities more attractive, inclusive and sustainable places for everyone”.

Bullocks: AA 485kgs €1760, Ch 482kgs €1720, AA 535kgs €1920, Lm 530kgs €1830, Lm 580kgs €1950, Lm 690kgs €2510, Ch 675kgs €2480, AA 805kgs €2300, AA 685kgs €1800, AA 660kgs €1760.

Roscommon MART WATCH

There was a good entry of top quality weanlings on offer at our sale held on Tuesday evening last, April 11th, with a strong trade for both bulls and heifers. Bull weanlings fetched from an average of €3.33 per kilo up to €4.27 per kilo, while heifer weanlings made from an average of €3.16 per kilo up to €4.25 There was a very good attendance of customers at the ringside, with online buyers also active.

We had a smaller number of sheep on offer at our weekly sale of lambs and cast ewes on Wednesday, April 12th. Prices for finished hoggets peaked at €168 and the tops for stag ewes fetched €200. Cast ewes made from €75 to €200 per lot, ewes with two lambs at foot made up to €260, and ewes with one lamb at foot made up to €190.

Our next sale of lambs and cast ewes is on Wednesday, April 19th at 11 am. The yard opens at 8 am and all stock must be penned by 10 am. Please note all sheep must be tagged with a full yellow EID tag set. The sale can be viewed live on livestock-live.com.

Sample prices for weanling heifers: Lim X 200kgs €850 - €4.25 per kg, Char X 275kgs €1,050 - €3.82 per kg, Lim X 360kgs €1,310 - €3.64 per kg, Char X 345kgs €1,230 - €3.57 per kg, Lim X 240kgs €1,200 - €3.51 per kg, Lim X 295kgs €1,100 - €3.73 per kg, Char X 280kgs €1,020 - €3.64 per kg, Lim X 270kgs €1,000 - €3.70 per kg, Char X 285kgs €950€3.33 per kg, Char X 275kgs €940 - €3.42 per kg, Lim X 245kgs €860 - €3.51 per kg, Char

X 300kgs €950 - €3.58 per kg.

Weanling bulls: Char X 270kgs €1,180€4.37 per kg, Char X 320kgs €1,290 - €4.03 per kg, Char X 330kgs €1,240 - €3.76 per kg, Lim X 320kgs €1,280 - €4 per kg, Char X 345kgs €1,440 - €4.17 per kg, Lim X 490kgs €1,610 - €3.79 per kg, Char X 425kgs €1,620 - €3.81 per kg, Char X 387kgs €1,400 - €3.61 per kg, Char X 350kgs €1,300 - €3.71 per kg, Lim X 370kgs €1,430 - €3.86 per kg, Char X 280kgs €1,100 - €3.93 per kg, Lim X 362kgs €1,310 - €3.61 per kg.

Finished hoggets: 53kgs €168, 61kgs €167, 60.2kgs €167, 53kgs €166, 52.1kgs €165, 54.3kgs €162, 52.8kgs €162, 44.4kgs €159, 50.2kgs €155, 52.2kgs €155, 48kgs €153, 49.2kgs €150.

40 pens of Bullocks and 20 pens of Heifers on offer Also Dry Cows - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Friday, April 21st at 11 a.m. Special sale of Bullocks Also Dry Cows & Heifers

Bookings accepted until 5 p.m. on Monday, 17th April - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Tuesday, April 25th at 4 p.m.

Sale of Weanlings

Also Springers

Bookings accepted until 5 p.m. on Thursday, 20th April - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Lambs & Cast Ewes

Each Wednesday at 11 a.m. Stock must be penned by 9.30 a.m. – Gates close at 10 a.m. ************

Sheep Scanning Service available each Wednesday from 9 to 10 am - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Saturday, 15th April at 12 noon

Organic Sale

Bookings now being accepted