Trade continued in Ballina Mart on Tuesday after the Mayo's All-Ireland winner footballers' homecoming celebrations in Castlebar the day before.

“The farmer has to go on, people have it in their schedule to sell stock at this time of the year even with the celebrations taking place,” said Mayo Sligo Mart manager Billy Loftus.

“Most of the farming community here are steeped in GAA, in the local clubs and all over Mayo, so it means an awful lot to them,” he adds.

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Loftus sees most of his mart customers at club games during the year and acknowledges the All-Ireland win after 75 years is a "relief to everyone".

“It has taken a weight off our shoulders here that finally we have landed it. Most of us of my generation and up have been at every final since 1951, so it’s brilliant,"

With regards to trade in the ring, according to Loftus, it has pulled up in the last few weeks.

“After a mixed enough spring where we started off really well, factory prices went down and correspondently trade went down a bit in the mart. But in the last five or six weeks we have seen the beef pulling up and good beef cattle coming back to the rings and making €4/kg and €4.20/kg in places where the good continental stores are making anything from €4 to €5/kg”.

Gerry Loftus, Laherdane, Co Mayo

“The celebrations have been hectic; it’s been a long time coming. We had a team of great players on Sunday and a bit of luck which you need every day of the week. I was at the match and it was the rarest feeling I have ever felt in my life because when that hooter went off, it was hard to understand if it was real or a dream.

"I farm suckler cows, sheep and it’s the way of life. I was born into it and I see unreal changes in the way things are being done today. Farming to me is in your blood, it’s what you see as a young person and what you grow up with. We should be going back to the drawing board and go back to farming the way it was, we have turned what was a natural enterprise and way of life into an industrialised model which is about money for corporations, dairy processors, meat factories etc.

"In my mind we are in a state of collapse as regards agriculture as regards environment, water quality, climate targets and all of that we are failing because of the industrialised model we have in Ireland.”

Martin Walsh, Crossmolina, Co Mayo

“The last few months have been good; lambs are holding well at the minute. Cattle are a steady trade too. We are selling store lambs at the minute. Why wouldn’t prices be good after Sam coming home, they are bound to be good. It’s massive for everyone, it’s been a long time waiting for it to come.

"The animals don’t care if Sam comes or not, they have to be looked after. It is hard, a lot of young farmers have jobs on the side, there is very little young farmers full time at it. It’s a tough sector, but it’s a great way of life. I would like to see more supports there for young farmers, especially those with families. You need your head well screwed on.”

Watch full interview here: