Irish Simmental Yearbook 2022-D 2 - Flipbook - Page 12
OBITUARIES
David Brickley
It was with great sadness that we learned of the
death of David Brickley, Main Street, Clonaslee,
Co Laois on the 5th November 2021 in his 74th
year.
David had an af昀椀nity with animals and with
nature in general and this led him to his lifelong
stewardship of his family farm in Clonaslee. He
believed in handling stock gently at all times and
never allowed a stick in his yard. Caring for the
world around him was a signi昀椀cant passion of
David’s, he kept bees for years also and felt very
strongly against the use of chemical sprays which
destroyed 昀氀owering plants especially dandelions.
The Brickley family are deeply rooted in farming,
with a strong interest in constant improvement in
their farming practices. David learned a lot about
cattle breeding from his uncle Tom Brickley, who
was a stalwart in the Simmental community. His
father P.D Brickley started breeding Simmentals
Pictured L to R is: P.D Brickley,
David Brickley and Patrick
Brickley ( who now runs the
family farm) at a show with a
Simmental Bull in the 1980s.
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Irish Simmental Yearbook 2022
in the early 1970’s with great success, breeding
Clonaslee Admiral who stood in Sligo AI station
for many years. They bred some exceptional cattle
and were very proud of the success that some of
the bloodlines delivered in the Clonagh herd most
especially Clonaslee Wanda and her bloodlines.
David went on to breed Simmentals and Aberdeen
Angus, he loved showing cattle and picked up many
rosettes along the way in the earlier years. He then
began to focus more so on breeding than showing.
His main aim was to improve the calving ease
throughout his herd, which was not a fundamental
metric of the show circuit.
Public speaking, Singing and Drama were some of
David’s main passions outside of family life and he
also had a keen interest in politics and justice. He
will be remembered as a gentle man who cherished
life’s simple pleasures.
May he rest in peace.