April sales expected at ‘Bridge mart

EARLY April is being viewed as a realistic timeframe for a farmer-led consortium to formalise all the paperwork and get the livestock mart in Sixmilebridge trading once more.

Over 400 farmers attended a public meeting in the village last Thursday night and unanimously endorsed a deal, brokered by a negotiating team with Golden Vale Marts, to acquire the property, on a 4.5-acre site at Ballysheen, for €300,000.
It was the final requirement to bring closure to a year-long campaign during which time the committee banked the agreed asking price through a €500 share purchase initiative, which was promoted in Sixmilebridge and throughout the neighbouring parishes.
Sociologist and Sixmilebridge parish priest Fr Harry Bohan, who was part of the negotiating team, said the decision to keep the mart trading has to be regarded as an important move in that it represents people taking responsibility for their own future.
“Work will now begin on collecting the share holding and put the pieces in place to sign a contract and get the mart up and running, hopefully by April.
“Once the proper structures are in place with good management and direction, this can eventually grow into other very important issues linked to the whole world of agro-industry and food,” he outlined.
Fr Bohan emphasised that what was also important was the likelihood that shareholders would be more loyal to the mart and more likely to use it, which would be good for its future operation.
When the mart first opened in 1973, it was founded by a group of local businessmen and traded as Bunratty Farmers’ Export Mart. The mart, which held weekly Saturday sales, subsequently changed hands in 1986 when purchased by the Golden Vale Co-operative group.
Labour Party candidate Michael McNamara has welcomed the decision taken at the public meeting to reopen the mart.
“As somebody who bought and sold cattle there before its closure, I welcome the planned reopening of the mart and I realise how important it is for Clare farmers and those from further afield.
“It is now important to see cattle in the pens there as soon as possible. The longer it is left closed, the more difficult it will be to attract back business. I hope the suggested April target date can now be met,” he added.