Boost for Cootehill as livestock mart reopens

The mart, trading as Station Road Mart Cootehill, reopens after a period of 12 years under the new management team of Jimmy O’Reilly and Patrick McEnaney.

Generating employment

The mart was founded by Tom Brady in the 1960’s and from the outset generated employment and economic activity by attracting members of the farming community to Cootehill. The mart remains in the Brady family with Jimmy Brady (son of Tom) working closely with Jimmy and Patrick to agree a deal for the mart’s reopening and also in helping to get the mart’s facilities ready for handling livestock again. The old station house on the site of the mart is also being fully refurbished and will be opened as a restaurant/canteen on sale days.

Jimmy explains that the news of the opening and refurbishment work being completed has created a buzz in the area. It is hoped that the reopening will have a similar effect to when the mart first opened of generating economic activity in the area and also in providing part-time employment for up to 25 people.

Local support

The target for the mart is to provide a market avenue for local farmers and also to farmers in the areas of south Monaghan, north Cavan and north east Meath while also attracting buyers from these regions and further afield. Experienced livestock auctioneers have also been sourced with Tommy McGovern, James Graham and Brian Molloy confirmed to take up the hammer.

Patrick and Jimmy are also hoping that their links in mart circles and knowledge of the trade will also benefit them in generating mart activity. Patrick has been involved in livestock all his life, having worked as an agent and haulier and more recently he has managed the canteen in Carnaross mart for the last two and a half years.

Jimmy runs a suckler herd and also follows in the footsteps of his father Seamus, who worked and auctioneered in marts including Carnaross, Trim, Kingscourt and Garrison.

Sales diary

The mart has significant animal holding facilities, which have recently being refurbished, with penning available for approximately 1,000 cattle and three rings to trade livestock. Two rings will be in operation for cattle each Wednesday with sales in ring 1 commencing at 11.30am with Dairy cows, followed by dry cows, suckler cows, heifers and weanling heifers. Sales in Ring two will start at 12 noon with bullocks followed by weanling bulls.

The third ring is located separate to the two cattle rings and the plan is to sell all classes of sheep in ring 3 from Wednesday 11 September onwards at 12 noon. Patrick says there is already keen interest developing in the sales.

For enquiries on the mart, contact Patrick McEnaney on 087 6979441 and Jimmy O’Reilly on 087 0515314.