Person: Seamus O’Keeffe

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

At Macroom Mart last Saturday, this 500kg Angus bull born May 2019 sold for €1,240.

farming

Message to Minister Cowen: Bring back the suckler cow subsidies of 25 years ago

Some say that our new Minister for Agriculture, Barry Cowen, mightn’t know that much about farming.

farming

Mart sales go exclusive, just like Sotheby’s, only without the snobbery

farming

Our fickle calf trade clearly depends on weather for exporters

farming

No basic payment. No disadvantaged payment. Clearly the right buttons aren’t being pressed

farming

Ryanair's Michael O'Leary has hosted a cattle sale with a difference

farming

Monsoon shows why out-wintered stock always get best prices

From Aintree to the cattle marts, cream always rises to the top

I didn’t go to the Grand National on Saturday. I was working. But I heard it on the radio, which is the same thing really.

Thu, 11 Apr, 2019

The Friesian bull calf rises to the occasion, as mart prices go up, along with numbers

“The Friesian bull is back,” Bandon mart manager, Tom McCarty, said to me at a busy sale of calves on Monday, and he was right. Up from nothing, like the phoenix from the ashes.

Thu, 28 Mar, 2019

The poor Friesian bull calf is like ‘nobody’s child’ in the marts

A farmer warned me earlier this week that I should make sure all outhouses and sheds were locked up tightly every night. “Don’t wake up one morning to find them all filled with calves,” he said.

Wed, 13 Mar, 2019

Demand builds as grass buyers finally get busy at the mart

This week, it really feels life is zooming by. We are all busy. Between farming and confirmations. Between religion and our calling to the land, we haven’t a moment to spare.

Thu, 17 May, 2018

Cattle mart reports: Top grade cattle to be auctioned as Kanturk Mart is rearing to raise funds for Rickie

Fellows at this time of the year can often be found complaining that they have the world of trouble to contend with.

Thu, 01 Feb, 2018

Good money paid for good cattle on a busy day in Macroom mart

Ryanair boss and Angus breeder Michael O’Leary was right to ask for “a sensible question” on RTÉ Radio 1’s Liveline last week.

Thu, 27 Jul, 2017

Kanturk mart, where it’s always business with a smile

The man who invented good humour must surely have been from Duhallow.

Fri, 21 Jul, 2017

Cattle markets report: Off-farm income, only money source for hard-pressed beef farmers

I really believe that one of the greatest calamities to hit rural Ireland in my lifetime was our decision to go down the road of the ‘off-farm income’.

Thu, 30 Mar, 2017

Cattle marts: Latté drinking beef farmers, the cattle trade is looking up

I was in Ballincollig on Monday morning, polishing off a latté in the company of the brother-in-law, when we spotted Agriculture Minister Michael Creed.

Thu, 23 Mar, 2017

Cattle marts report: Sunshine gives cattle a very desirable glow, putting an end to price slump at marts

The great St Patrick whose remarkable life we celebrate tomorrow, was a mighty man for looking after sheep.

Thu, 16 Mar, 2017

Cattle marts: Lighter cattle not in vogue as rain keeps falling

The singer Madonna used to have a song a few years back, called Rain.

Thu, 09 Mar, 2017

Cattle marts: Unlike Hollywood, no confusion among cattle traders in busy week at the marts

While the Oscar ceremony on Sunday night was nothing but a confusing mess, at the marts the scene is anything but confusing.

Thu, 02 Mar, 2017

Beef marts: Enda and store cattle are on the move, as mart trade holds firm

It looks like Enda Kenny’s forthcoming visit to Washington will be his last high-flying trip as Taoiseach.

Thu, 23 Feb, 2017

Cattle mart report: Calves and quality bulls bounce back as spring brings a timely boost to cattle marts

I’m as busy as a block layer on the Mexican border this week. I’m buying calves like there is no tomorrow, my hands are flying.

Thu, 02 Feb, 2017

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.

Thu, 08 Sep, 2016

Cattle marts report: Calm seas at marts as Brexit comes ashore, but will this picture hold in longer term?

All seems to be quiet in the marts this week. Perhaps “too damn quiet” as they say in the cowboy films, just before the Indians attack.

Thu, 30 Jun, 2016

Marts report: Whopping €2,390 paid for Charolais bullock in Bandon, as bigger cattle sell well

While there was some good news during the week, with Turkey opening its arms to the live export of Irish cattle, in this house I was dealing with a live export of a different variety.

Thu, 23 Jun, 2016

Busy times at marts as fine weather sees cattle pile on kilos grazing in the fields

While Ireland’s attempts to achieve European glory in soccer have kicked off with a sense of deflation (Monday night’s match was a match we should have won), it’s anything but deflation on our farms right now.

Thu, 16 Jun, 2016

Plainer cattle are taking more hits than Foreman versus Ali

“Oh man,” said the late great Muhammad Ali when he found George Foreman fading fast in the eighth round of their thrilling Rumble in the Jungle encounter, “This is the wrong place for you to get tired.”

Thu, 09 Jun, 2016

Cattle marts report: New Minister is top topic of conversation as farmers shoot the breeze at busy marts

It was all about Michael Creed in Macroom mart on Saturday last, with talk as to what kind of Minister for Agriculture he might make.

Thu, 12 May, 2016

Cattle marts report: Top price of €4,400 and not an empty seat at Gigginstown ‘Ryanair’ Angus sale

From Skibbereen to Gigginstown, it has been quality all the way at the cattle sales.

Thu, 28 Apr, 2016

Cattle mart report: Put the squeeze on the yearling, or the mart buyer will put the squeeze on you

I looked at my cattle today while wearing my boots. It was the first time this year that I was able to venture into the field wellington free.

Thu, 21 Apr, 2016

Cattle marts: Demand for cattle with overcoats as farmers brave rainfall to attend busy marts

On our farms right now many cattle are spending a good deal of their day backed up against a sheltered ditch.

Thu, 31 Mar, 2016

Cattle marts report: Prices and weather showing signs of picking up as focus moves to the fields

I find it very hard to believe that you will have any great interest in reading this mart report today.

Thu, 17 Mar, 2016

Cattle marts report: Friesian store bullocks break the €2/kg mark as buyers splash the cash on quality stock

Our first stop this week is in Macroom mart.

Thu, 10 Mar, 2016

Livestock monitor: Bumper harvest saves the bacon but store cattle are back €50 a head due to weather

There were many losses in the political field over the weekend.

Thu, 03 Mar, 2016

Cattle marts report: Good mood at marts, cattle numbers keep going up as the rain keeps coming down

Monday was a super day weather wise. And I thought as I journeyed to Kilmallock mart that the good times had finally arrived.

Thu, 18 Feb, 2016

In fond memory of Terry Wogan, legend among mart reporters

Not many people know this, but the late Terry Wogan began his broadcasting career on RTE radio dishing out the cattle mart report.

Thu, 04 Feb, 2016

Beef breeds at up to €500 but calves still an affordable form of mart madness

I went mad altogether with the amount of calves I bought in Bandon on Monday.

Thu, 28 Jan, 2016

Calf trade started off flying high with up to €510 paid at Bandon last Monday

2015 was the year of the mart.

Thu, 07 Jan, 2016

IFA pay packages are top topic of conversation as marts start to get into festive spirits

As I jot down this week’s mart report I see the IFA now has effectively two Presidents. It’s like the Vatican with the two Popes.

Thu, 26 Nov, 2015

Cattle mart report: Weanling heifers and bulls make good prices as sellers have upper hand at marts

I doubt if there is a sinkhole under the town of Macroom. For if there was, it would surely have opened up last Saturday afternoon, when Macroom Mart had one hell of a weighty sale.

Thu, 08 Oct, 2015

Cattle marts report: Winners few and far between in beef farming and the new National Lottery

I see the National Lottery have added two more balls to the drum, thus making the likelihood of me ever playing the lottery game all the more remote.

Thu, 13 Aug, 2015

Cattle marts report: Steady sales as marts drive on, at a safe remove from global economic upheavals

The mad cow, the rain, the thunder, even the Greeks voting no, nothing it seems can put the breaks on the runaway train that is the high flying cattle trade.

Thu, 09 Jul, 2015

Cattle marts report: Serious trading done at regional marts as buyers travel from all corners of the country

On Tuesday morning, in a state of utter confusion, I found myself in Lissarda village. You see, I didn’t know whether to turn right for Corrin, or left for Kanturk.

Thu, 25 Jun, 2015

Steady sales at marts despite farmers being busy making silage while the sun shines

I have to admit that I’m finding it increasingly difficult to be in any way negative about the mart trade these days.

Thu, 28 May, 2015

Cattle marts report: Kilmallock sales were €1.5m on Monday, but buyers say store prices are easing

I’m a right pity this week, as I attend the marts. My right hand is broken, and I can no longer pick up the odd little calf, as I go about my mart reporting business.

Thu, 23 Apr, 2015

Steady Kanturk sales set standard for a week of lively trading across the cattle marts

Kanturk mart held its annual fat stock show and sale on Tuesday, and I was there to enjoy the spectacle.

Thu, 27 Nov, 2014

Accountant was validly appointed as liquidator to transport firm, says judge

An accountant nominated to act as liquidator to a Co Tipperary transport company by its creditors was validly appointed, the High Court has ruled.

Wed, 31 Oct, 2012

British breeds catching up to continental prices

By the time I had this week’s mart report completed, I had heard of stock being re-housed in Cork because of the wet, a scarcity of grass in Meath because of the cold, and a mart in Kerry that takes in foreign coach tours on mart days!

Thu, 12 Apr, 2012

New offerings in Cork county as Castlelands aims to beat the slump

IT’S going to be an eventful month for Cork builders Castlelands Construction. Just as they launch new A-rated homes in three locations, at significantly reduced prices and with an increased specification and fit-out, they are also in line for two very major planning decisions.

Sat, 16 Jan, 2010