Irish Simmental Yearbook 2024-D - Flipbook - Page 22
Obituaries
DENIS O’HALLORAN
D
enis O`Halloran of Main Street, Tulla, Co. Clare passed away in
March 2023 after a short illness. Denis was a quiet man who
mostly kept his thoughts to himself but for those who knew
him, his friendship was unwavering.
Denis’s life revolved around farming with his main passion being
Connemara Ponies, Simmental Cattle and good working Collie Dogs.
Denis kept 30 Pedigree Simmental cows and registered his calves under
the Tulla Prefix. Denis was a regular at Roscommon Sales and exhibited
the Yearling and Weanling Heifer Champions over the years.
Denis liked showing but found time and help challenging. His success with
Tulla Terence a Hillcrest King son when winning the Southwest Club title
in 2006 was particularly pleasing to Denis. This bull was later purchased
by Andrew Sleigh, Aberdeenshire at Roscommon the following November. Denis’s last time to exhibit
at the National Livestock at Tullamore was in 2018 when his junior Bull Tulla Jaguar won the National
Junior Bull Championship. Tulla Jaguar has gone
on to leave his mark on the Simmental Breed for
his owners at Coose Simmentals. Nothing pleased
Denis better that the realization that his herd at
Tulla could compete and hold its own with the best.
Denis loved natural easy fleshing animals and
often referenced the biggest influences on his
herd as follows: Raceview E-Doc, Hillcrest Jerome,
Ballyduff Jeweller, Auroch Anto P and Curaheen
Evolution.
Denis will be greatly missed by his many Simmental
friends, but they will be happy in the knowledge
that his name will be remembered on occasions
when the Tulla Prefix appears in the back pedigree
of winning animals for years to come.
Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.
Tulla Jaguar – National Junior Bull Champion 2018
MARY O’RIORDAN
ary O’Riordan was born and reared on a beef
and tillage farm in Ballyspillane, Midleton, Co.
Cork. She married Thomas O Riordan, a dairy
farmer from Ballyedmond, nearer Midleton in
1960. Unfortunately, she was widowed a few
short years later in 1964, leaving her to rear three very young
children, including her son Tom, who was born three months
after his father died.
M
Mary continued farming with the help of her brother John. In
1982, Mary and Tom purchased their first pedigree Simmental
heifer from the late Pat Lynch, Ladysbridge, Co. Cork, namely
Castleloma Lassie. This was the start of a pedigree Simmental
herd together with a dairy enterprise. Mary quickly developed
a love for the Simmental breed and so for the next 30 years,
she enjoyed attending and participating in local and national
shows, sales etc. She catered for the hospitality side of The
Southern Club for many years, making teas, sandwiches etc,
travelling with the clubs promotional caravan at the time.
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IRISH SIMMENTAL YEARBOOK 2024
