€17m marts facility ushers in new era

A NEW era in livestock sales began yesterday when a €17 million mart opened for business in Co Cork.

The new Fermoy facility, part of Cork Co-op Marts Group, has holding capacity for 1,600 cattle, 1,200 sheep and 700 calves and also features three sales rings with high-tech back up services.

The centre was developed on a 37-acre site at Corrin, close to the town, and replaces marts in Midleton, Mitchelstown and Fermoy, which are now closed.

Links with those three centres are maintained in the new complex where the sales rings have been respectively named the Owenacurra, Funcheon and Blackwater after the three rivers associated with the towns concerned.

A 250-seat conference room which can be adapted as a fully equipped theatre has also been named after the late Switzer Kingston, the first chairman of Cork Marts, which was founded in 1956.

The group’s chief executive Sean O’Sullivan said it was just over 51 years since the first sales took place in Fermoy mart.

“Since those early days and humble beginnings, Cork Co-operative Marts has sold over 7.5 million cattle and calves through its sales rings,” he said.

Mr O’Sullivan said the first sales in the new Corrin facility is the strongest possible statement the group could make to its shareholders and the wider farming community.

“Cork Marts is absolutely committed to its farmer shareholders by making this long term commitment to the open auction system as being the fairest and best method for selling your livestock,” he said.

Dermot O’Connell, chairman, said the opening of the new centre was an important milestone for Cork Marts.

The group also has marts in Cahir, Macroom, Dungarvan, Bandon and Skibbereen as well as a property services division with branches in Bandon, Mitchelstown and Midleton.

Farmers, cattle dealers, hauliers and others from all over Munster, who attended yesterday’s opening sales of 1,750 cattle and sheep, were greatly impressed with the modern facilities.

Oliver Tarrant, a buyer of cattle and calves from Cahir, Co Tipperary, said the new centre was very compact with the three sales rings close together.

It is also conveniently located out in the country.