I see Aurivo legend Martin Walsh is bowing out this week after a lifetime working for the company.

Having managed the marts side of the business, Walsh witnessed a lot of changes over the last 40 years.

Digitisation of marts and moving from the pen and paper to computers was a massive leap to negotiate. Online selling was the final hurdle in 2020 but he cleared that one too, navigating a seamless transition for buyers and sellers to online trading.

The jewel in his crown was Balla Mart in Mayo and he put a huge amount of time and effort into designing a state-of-the-art loading and unloading area in recent years.

Martin was the go-to man for advice for many marts in the country and his contacts put him in a place where he could sort any type of a problem, big or small.

He leaves the mart business in a good place, with big numbers at sales, record prices and an industry that has stood out in its handling of COVID-19 restrictions.