The Ardlea/ Elite Herds were founded in 1994 with the importation of 12 heifers from France. Later that year a further consignment of 12 heifer was purchased again in France by Mac Murphy and Seamus Cody.

Irish bloodlines were also purchased including a Garange Balerno heifer from Ray Carolan and for Filsdaidi heifers from the Luttrellstown herd in February ‘95.

Further importations from France followed that year including 11 females and 2 stock bulls from the Lanaud Test Station, Justicer and Junior.

We got our first taste for the show ring in the summer of ‘95. That year Luttrellstown Helena was Reserve Champion at the Ploughing Championships in Ballacolla and Justicer was Reserve Male Champion.

In 1996 we showed Luttrellstown Hazel and her calf Ardlea Lucia at Balmoral winning the Junior Cow class.

In 1999 the As De Pic bull Ferry made his new home in Ardlea getting straight to work. His semen is now being sold through the Irish Limousin Cattle Society. He transmits high growth rate and good muscling to his progeny., therefore making him the ideal bull for any market. His daughters combine power and femininity. Ferry has one of the top Irish and French BLUP indices. His sons and daughters continue to win many prizes in the show ring and top prices at sales.

The future aim in the Ardlea herd is to produce quality pedigree Limousin cattle with good BLUP indicies and matching phenotypes for use in both pedigree and commercial herds. These cattle should be pleasing to the eye and also contain consistency which achieving a high premium for todays market both at home and abroad.

We will continue to purchase the best breeding females and embrace the technology of Embryo Transfer to quickly build up cow families. Our commitment and dedication in the show and sales ring along with the use of Performance Testing in Tully will be an integral part of our continued success in the future.