Cattle marts: Heavens smile down upon a sunny week for buyers and sellers at busy cattle marts

I threw on my coat, fully prepared as I headed out the door, bound for Kilmallock cattle mart on Monday morning.

But I soon realised I didn’t need the thing at all. I needed the coat for Kilmallock about as much as our Government claims it needs the €13bn from Apple.

It was surplus to requirements. A thing of little importance, something I could well do without.