The National Hall of Fame Awards took place in the Sheraton Hotel, Athlone on Sunday 30th April, 2023. Mary O’Boyle from Cabragh, Coolaney, Co. Sligo was chosen by the Irish Shorthorn Society for her contribution to promoting the Shorthorn breed.

Mary has been heavily involved in the Moyside Shorthorn Breeder’s Club since it was first formed in 2004. We thank Mary for her many years of hard work and dedication to the Shorthorn breed and Irish Shorthorn Society. Below is a piece Mary put together for the
National Hall of Fame Award. Photos by Padraig Devaney.

Pedigree Shorthorn Herd: Cabragh Shorthorns. I am honoured to have been chosen by the Irish Shorthorn Society to be the recipient of this prestigious award for 2023. My late husband Patrick always had Shorthorn cattle. In the 70’s when cattle prices were bad and fodder was scarce, he spotted three beautiful cows that were destined for the factory. He bought them for £18 each.

In autumn of 1999, Patrick went to the sale in Kilfenora with the late Kieran McAllister and purchased two weanling heifers. He made many trips to the sale in Ennis after and never returned with an empty trailer. Our son Brian now takes care of the herd. He also has a flock of mountain sheep as we reside in the Ox Mountains in Co. Sligo.

We joined the Moyside Breeder’s Club when it was formed in the Gateway Hotel, Swinford, on the 13th September 2004. I stayed in the background. Later I was asked to take on the role of secretary which I accepted and nearly 19 years later, I am still doing it. I really enjoy it, taking entries for Spring & Autumn sales, where I have got to know many people throughout the country. Down through the years, many club outings. I have been organised to visit farms of Shorthorn breeders in other parts of the country. We even went to a Shorthorn sale in Stirling which was organised by Michael McKeon. Our last outing was to the farms of Tom Fox and John McCormack, Athlone. It was a very enjoyable day and great cattle to be viewed.