FARMERS WHO have raised €300,000 to reopen an east Co Clare livestock mart will see their project completed when it opens on Wednesday.
Sixmilebridge mart had been operating since 1973, but was closed down by its owners, Golden Vale Marts, in December 2009, who said it was not viable.
However, since then a group of local farmers and local people have raised the money necessary to reopen the mart, and the hope is it will bring a vibrancy back into the community.
The €300,000 needed to buy the 4.5-acre site was raised mainly by 600 farmers who have become shareholders in the mart.
It will be run by a nine-member board. They are chairman Pat O’Reilly, secretary Eddie Punch, Mike Ryan, Seán Hannon, Joe O’Connell, Andrew Dundas, Gerard Liddy, Pat Freeman and Tom O’Connor.
The mart is to be managed by Seán Ryan, of New Inn, Co Galway, who previously managed the mart in Athenry.
Board chairman and local Sixmilebridge farmer Pat O’Reilly described the workload as challenging.
However, he said the board was heartened by the fantastic response locally, and he paid tribute to the huge effort made by volunteers to get the mart ready in time.
“Without the support of the shareholders and volunteers none of this would be possible. If we can get the same support from farmers who have cattle to sell then there is every prospect that the mart can succeed.
“The mart will be targeting farmers in Co Limerick as well as Clare farmers.
“With the new tunnel open, and the closure of Rathkeale mart, Sixmilebridge is a very good option for many farmers in Limerick,” said Mr O’Reilly.
“There is no doubt that there is a need for this mart. The Saturday sale suits a lot of part-time farmers, and of course, we are hopeful that there will be plenty of buyers from all over the country.
“The new manager will be working very hard to ensure that there are good customers for all the cattle.”
He praised the support which had been given by the local business community, which indicated the mart was important to the local economy in the past and would be again in the future.
“We are acutely aware of the unemployment issue in the region, and we are hoping that by reopening this mart we will help provide new jobs in the region as well as creating new enterprises across the region.
“This has the potential to be a really good news story for everyone involved,” said Mr O’Reilly.
Mr Punch, who is also general secretary of the Irish Cattle and Sheepfarmers Association, said it was still possible to buy shares in the mart.
He encouraged anyone interested to contact committee members as the plan was to minimise borrowings.
The first sale on August 27th will cover dry cows, bullocks and heifers.
The first weanling sale will be held the following Saturday, September 3rd.
A special show and sale of weanlings is planned for September 17th, and a fatstock show and sale is scheduled for October 8th.