National award for Killula Stud

A good breeding and racing year culminating in winning the Land Rover’s prize, played their part in the well-known Killula Stud at Newmarket-on-Fergus winning one of the major prizes in this year’s FBD National Farmyard Awards.

Owned by Karen Hannon, who inherited it from her parents Pat and Catherine McLoughney in 2002, Killula Stud won first place in the equine section.

Karen is married to John Hannon, who has his livestock farm in nearby Lisduff. They breed, produce and consign both flat and national hunt young stock for the equine industry. They also operate a mixed grazing system, running some sheep and cattle. They have three children Gemma (6), Patrick (5) and Laura-Mae (4).
Homemade jumps and careful landscaping are all features of the farmyard. All the horses are thoroughbred and Killula Stud has built up its livery clients through word of mouth and a sound reputation.

Karen believes honesty is always the best policy and it returns business every time. Much of the work centres on preparation of horses for clients for sales.

Karen, whose father Pat had a newsagency business in Shannon Town for 23 years before retiring and buying the stud farm, is now moving into the area of private coaching for young riders.

The FBD National Farmyards Awards, run in conjunction with the Irish Farmers Journal, recognise the achievements of farmers in setting standards that are well maintained, safely laid out, aesthetically pleasing to the eye and minimally intrusive to the landscape. The awards also promote safe work practices and recognise that tidy farmyards contribute to good health and safety practice.

The overall winner was the Nolan Farmyard, Grangeford, Bennekerry, County Carlow. Other winners were The Fitzsimons’ Farmyard, Inniskeen, County Monaghan (first in livestock) and Wallace Farmyard, Muckamore, County Antrim (first in dairy).