Red rosette for Ruby

Young Oran Corley enjoyed a belated birthday present at the Virginia Show on Wednesday.

The Mayo teenager turned 13 the day before and then his eye-catching Shorthorn called Ruby won her class

It was a just reward for Oran and his father John having made the long trip east from Kilkelly near Knock Airport. They claimed the red rosette the Shorthorn Heifer born in 2024 class.

"Her name is Ruby - we bred her ourselves. She's from Napoleon of Upsall," young Oran said of the famous bull. "We bought her mother in Elphin."

This was only their second show this year, and having been overlooked for a rosette at Erris Agricultural Show, they were delighted to get a first in Virginia.

Asked what he thought the judge saw in Ruby, Oran surmised: "I think he saw she was a traditional shorthorn, she was quiet, she was was square."