BYMICHAEL BRESLIN
Fermanagh District Council feted two sets of people who recently brought honour to their county, on the football field and on the farming genetics front.
The Fermanagh ladies gaelic football squad, as winners of the Division 3 National Football title, gained automatic promotion to Division 2. The Crawford Brothers, from Maguiresbridge, achieved "Best in Europe" with their pedigree limousin bull, "Sauvignon". This success is the culmination of a lifetime in breeding livestock for the Crawford family.
The chairman of Fermanagh Council, John O'Kane told the girls he was delighted to welcome them to the Townhall,.
"Your success is due to the hard work and commitment of the squad under the direction of your new m manager, Paula Cunningham. The work of Pat Chapman and Josie Boyle in previous years must also be acknowledged".
Mr O'Kane then showed he knew more than most by recalling that Fermanagh had a wonderful first half in their final against Westmeath, scoring freely and denying Westmeath a score until almost half time.
:The team gave a superb display of movement and skill and were first out of the blocks to dominate the game. While Westmeath came more into the game in the second half, the Fermanagh Ladies were determined not to beaten. You played better football and worked very hard to play good football in the swirly wind.
"The Council is pleased to host this Reception to mark your success", he concluded, " and I would ask that you sign the Visitors' Book as a permanent record of this marvellous achievement".
Councillor O'Kane told the Crawford brothers, Raymond and Stephen he was equally delighted to welcome them to the Townhall 'to acknowledge your tremendous success in achieving "Best in Europe" with your pedigree limousin bull, "Sauvignon".
"This success', he went on, " is the culmination of a lifetime in breeding livestock for the Crawford family. "Sauvignon" was judged best of 110 limousin animals brought together at the prestigious SIMA Agricultural Show in Paris, and he was placed 1st in a class of 13 limousin stock bulls and went on to become Senior Champion, Male Champion, Champion Carcase Animal in the Show and Champion Limousin in Europe.
"He was previously Male Champion at the Royal Show at Stoneleigh, Overall Limousin Champion at the Great Yorkshire Show and Male Champion at the Royal Welsh Show".
The chairman said this success put "Sauvignon" in great demand for AI services and he noted he was currently based at the Cogent's AI Stud in Cheshire, rather than at the family farm at Maguiresbridge.
"The success at the SIMA Show in Paris", he went on, " is especially significant in that it was the first time that UK livestock had been exhibited there. The Crawford family are well known in France as they have imported French-bred Limousin over a number of years. Four years ago, Herbie Crawford became the first breeder in Northern Ireland to judge at SIMA".
Mr O'Kane also noted that the whole family was involved in "Sauvignon's" success. Raymond and Stephen were in Paris with their stockman, Paul Walker, their sister, Elizabeth and her husband, Geoffrey Rodgers, while Herbie and Ena were supporting their efforts by managing things at home.
"This achievement shows that our agricultural sector in Fermanagh can compete with the best and in fact beat them in their own back yard', he concluded. "Fermanagh has been shown in an excellent light and Crawford Brothers have put the county on the world agricultural stage, with interest in the bloodlines coming from all over Europe and beyond.
"I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Crawfords on their fantastic achievement".
