The Marble City is to get the mart treatment on 17 March, with the naming of auctioneer George Candler as grand marshal of Kilkenny’s St Patrick’s Day parade.

Over half a century’s worth of experience in keeping stock moving through mart rings will no doubt assist Candler in keeping floats moving on schedule next Tuesday.

“The days of a tractor and trailer with someone sitting on a bale of straw are gone. The parade has improved enormously and, in my view, it’s now one of the best in the southeast,” the marshal commented on his appointment.

The Dealer knows too well the difficulties of herding cats. What it’s like parading them could be another story.