Mart still going strong after 50 years

***The year in review***

GORT Mart celebrated its 50th anniversary during 2012. With an annual turnover of about €12 million, Gort Mart is still going strong, despite intense competition from other marts in the region.
Unlike a lot of agricultural communities, which have been adversely hit by the closure of local marts, Galway still has a large number of marts including Athenry, Ballinasloe, Tuam, Moutbellew, Headford, Ma’am Cross and Clifden. Almost half of the business for Gort Mart comes from North and East Clare from places like Tubber, Ballyvaughan, Fanore, Ennistymon, Lahinch, Feakle and Flagmount.
Gort Mart manager, Gerry Finnerty said the gala dinner held in August was the culmination of a brilliant week of celebration and looked forward to celebrating another 50 years of making a major contribution to the local economy.
Seventeen members of the original founding committee of Gort Mart of 1962 were honoured on the night with presentations made to the surviving members, as well as family of the deceased committee members.
Three of the original founding committee attended the function, John C Kelly, Kilcolgan, Tom Nolan, Gort and Bertie O’Connor, United Kingdom, formerly of Ballybuck, Gort.
The fourth surviving member, Seamus Clandillon, was unable to attend and his presentation was received by his nephew, Jim Earley.
The guest speaker on the night was Michael Flynn, Galway IFA chairman. Other speakers included Padraic McCormack, who was a former auctioneer in Gort Mart, Colm Flanagan, current chairman of Gort Mart and Gerry Finnerty.
A further presentation was made to David Curley, Lavally, Gort, who has 47 years of service given to Gort Mart. As part of the week’s celebrations, staff and committee members made a presentation to Cahercalla Hospice and Galway Hospice. The money was raised from the sale of two cattle purchased by staff and committee members and fed by the chairman Colm Flanagan.
The mart also celebrated its 50th anniversary with three special sales, a sheep sale, a weanling show and sale and a cattle show and sale.