A trading place, a rural employer and a social hub. The community that knows Mountrath Mart well are shocked at its closure. The Mountrath Co-Op Livestock Sales committee announced on Wednesday that it will cease trading with immediate effect. Just over a year ago it celebrated its 50th birthday.
'A big shock'
“It’s a sad day in the area, even from a social point of view,” said IFA Laois county chair Francis Gorman.
“It’s an awful kick in the teeth to the beef industry and there are a lot of part-time farmers in the area that don’t have time to travel further afield to sell cattle. It’s a big shock.”
Farmer shareholders have been reassured that the society remains solvent and any current liabilities will be met.
Ger Delaney from Mountrath watching the auction at the 50th Anniversary of the Mountrath Mart. \ Philip Doyle
It is understood that overhead costs, particularly insurance, were the main reasons behind the decision to close.
“Mountrath would have been a centre for E and U-grade weanlings, good stock,” said Henry Burns.
“I’ve been going there since I was eight. If anything, throughput was higher lately.
“It was a standalone mart with no major debt. A lot of other marts would have other streams of income. The overheads must be severe.”
Mountrath Mart held sales on Wednesdays and Thursday evenings.
Joe Delaney at the 50th Anniversary of the Mountrath Mart. \ Philip Doyle
The Wednesday sale was for store cattle, calves and cull cows. On Thursday evenings weanlings and suckler cows would go through the ring.
The only other mart in Laois is Ballinakill, 20km away.
The locals turned out in force for the mart's 50th anniversary sale which was held in November 2017.
Celebrations at the 50th Anniversary of the Mountrath Mart. \ Philip Doyle
Kyle Delaney, three, at the 50th Anniversary of the Mountrath Mart with his father, granddad and great uncle. \ Philip Doyle
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New mart licensing regulations come into force
A trading place, a rural employer and a social hub. The community that knows Mountrath Mart well are shocked at its closure. The Mountrath Co-Op Livestock Sales committee announced on Wednesday that it will cease trading with immediate effect. Just over a year ago it celebrated its 50th birthday.
'A big shock'
“It’s a sad day in the area, even from a social point of view,” said IFA Laois county chair Francis Gorman.
“It’s an awful kick in the teeth to the beef industry and there are a lot of part-time farmers in the area that don’t have time to travel further afield to sell cattle. It’s a big shock.”
Farmer shareholders have been reassured that the society remains solvent and any current liabilities will be met.
Ger Delaney from Mountrath watching the auction at the 50th Anniversary of the Mountrath Mart. \ Philip Doyle
It is understood that overhead costs, particularly insurance, were the main reasons behind the decision to close.
“Mountrath would have been a centre for E and U-grade weanlings, good stock,” said Henry Burns.
“I’ve been going there since I was eight. If anything, throughput was higher lately.
“It was a standalone mart with no major debt. A lot of other marts would have other streams of income. The overheads must be severe.”
Mountrath Mart held sales on Wednesdays and Thursday evenings.
Joe Delaney at the 50th Anniversary of the Mountrath Mart. \ Philip Doyle
The Wednesday sale was for store cattle, calves and cull cows. On Thursday evenings weanlings and suckler cows would go through the ring.
The only other mart in Laois is Ballinakill, 20km away.
The locals turned out in force for the mart's 50th anniversary sale which was held in November 2017.
Celebrations at the 50th Anniversary of the Mountrath Mart. \ Philip Doyle
Kyle Delaney, three, at the 50th Anniversary of the Mountrath Mart with his father, granddad and great uncle. \ Philip Doyle
Read more
New mart licensing regulations come into force
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