A star is born as Hession handles Goffs auctioneering debut with aplomb

Galway auctioneer Darren Hession made an assured debut on the Goffs rostrum on Monday as he stepped up from bid-spotting to auctioning with aplomb, selling his first run of 13 lots including a Walk In The Park half-sister to Grade 1-placed Sandor Clegane at €38,000.

It may have been his first time selling at Goffs but the Turloughmore native has an extensive body of work in the realm of auctioneering having begun his career at Tuam Mart during the school holidays.

Winner of the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers (IPAV) novice rostrum auctioneer competition in 2022, for which he won a trip to Dallas, Texas to attend America's Auction Academy, Hession recently auctioned at the world famous Goresbridge Go For Gold sale of top-class young event horses.

“It was a really enjoyable experience,” said Hession. “I’m delighted to be afforded the opportunity to do this as it’s a massive global stage, not just a national stage. When you begin auctioneering you always aspire to sell in a place like Goffs."

An introduction by a friend led the graduate of Atlantic Technological University's BSc in Agriculture and Environmental Management to apply to bid-spot at Goffs.

Hession said: "I was fortunate to get into bid-spotting at Goffs a few years ago. I did the Goffs Orby Sale in 2022 first, and I’ve been spotting on the rostrum since last year. It's very useful as you get a context of how the sale works from that angle."

Having gone on to study a MSc in Agricultural Extension and Innovation at University College Dublin, Hession works as an auctioneer with David Moggan Property Consultants in Claregalway and completed the IPAV's course in order to qualify for his auctioneer's licence, which is compulsory for all those wishing to act as an auctioneer in the Republic of Ireland.

He was quick to thank the team of auctioneers at Goffs for their encouragement, support and advice ahead of his Kildare Paddocks debut.

“I gave it my all today [Monday], as I’m a firm believer that nerves don’t help anybody," he said. "Well, maybe a little adrenaline helps, but panicking is no good.

"I have to thank all the auctioneers here for helping me prepare and giving me guidance; Henry [Beeby], Nick [Nugent], Andrew [Nolan], Bernard [Condren] and Tadhg [Dooley]. Their help has been phenomenal, they couldn’t have done any more for me.”

Hession is due for another stint on the rostrum again on Tuesday and will have his third run during Wednesday's final session of the December National Hunt Sale.

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