Stand on: ringside bidders return with traditional flair and pageantry

Stand on! Ringside bidders returned to marts this week, with all the flair and pageantry that we associate with ringsides. Pat Cashin, Ballingarry, Thurles, Co Tipperary, tries to open calves at Bandon Mart in Co Cork which had over 900 calves in the mart on Monday. Throughput was up as sellers waited for ringside bidding to return to sell animals.

Vincent Foley, Raheen, Innishannon, and John O'Brien, Oldcourt, Ballinspittle, were delighted to be back at Bandon Mart. \ Donal O' Leary

Kilkenny Mart. \ Claire Nash

Buyers Alwin Anderson and Charistian Wilson at Raphoe Livestock Mart, Co Donegal, on Monday - its first day open to customers attending this year. \ Clive Wasson

Paul Leonard back bidding ringside at Raphoe Livestock Mart, Co Donegal. \ Clive Wasson

Raphoe Livestock Mart, Co Donegal. \ Clive Wasson

David McCauley working in the ring at the lamb sale at Raphoe Livestock Mart, Co Donegal. \ Clive Wasson

John Muldoon, Stonefield Ballinlough, Kells, Co Meath, at Carnaross Mart. \ Philip Doyle

Charlie Kenny, Edgeworthstown, Co Longford, gets his haircut by Mary at Carnaross Mart in Co Meath. \ Philip Doyle

At Carnaross Mart. \ Philip Doyle

Matt Tighe, Virginia, Co Cavan, at Carnaross Mart. \ Philip Doyle

Tom Stanley from Oldcastle, Co Meath, at Carnaross Mart. \ Philip Doyle

Dermot Neary from Dundalk, Co Louth, bids on cattle at Carnaross Mart, Co Meath. \ Philip Doyle

Eamonn Coughlan from Ferbane back in the ring at Birr Mart, Co Offaly. \ Odhran Ducie

Eamonn Coughlan (Ferbane) back in the ring at Birr Mart on Monday while also keeping an eye on the online bidding which was reported to be quite busy also as some farmers continued to bid from home. \ Odhran Ducie

Cousins Richie Nolan and Darragh Purcell delighted to be back in the ring at Birr Mart on Monday. Social distancing and mask wearing for COVID-19 compliance was evident as trade was reported to be good and firm while online activity was also prominent. \ Odhran Ducie

Prospective buyers back in the ring at Birr Mart on Monday. \ Odhran Ducie

Overview of Birr Mart on Monday as farmers returned to the ring. \ Odhran Ducie

Pat Donoghue, Lorrha, Co Tipperary, keeping an eye on proceedings in the ring at Birr Mart on Monday. Central Auctions manager Michael Harty welcomed back buyers and said it was a long five months without activity in the ring. \ Odhran Ducie

Drafting lambs in Co Wexford

Sheep farmer Ned Keogh drafting lambs in Marshelstown, Co Wexford, with friend and beef farmer Mícheál Kelly from Ardrahan, Co Galway. Lambs were not the only ones drafted, as Mícheál was put to work on his first weekend away in a long time, but he was rewarded with an ice pop. \ Philip Doyle

Ned Keogh with his dog Nel. \ Philip Doyle

Silage in Co Limerick

Mikey Dowling raking silage for farmer and contractor Todd Magner in Ahalin, Ballingarry, Co Limerick. Todd runs a calf to beef system.  \ Philip Doyle

Missing the show in Co Kerry

No show... Simon O'Connor, Gortagass, Kenmare Co Kerry, will miss showing his prizewinning cattle again this year,, as all the big agricultural shows are cancelled for a second year because of COVID-19. Simon's Belgian Blue- and Limousin-cross have reigned supreme at the Tullamore Show, National Ploughing Championships and Kerry shows for many years. \ Valerie O'Sullivan

A shepherd and his dog in Co Galway

Local Shepherd Omer Alkubaisy herding his flock of Suffolk-cross sheep with sheepdog Sweep on his farmland in Kylebrack, Loughrea, Co Galway. \ David Ruffles

Just a little more ploughing in Co Wexford

Colin Heath ploughing as slurry has been spread in Kilmurry South, Co Wicklow, for Collin brothers contractors. \ Philip Doyle

Winners...Irish Angus School’s Competition

Helen Savage, Emily O’Donovan, Kelsey Hourigan, Rachel O'Gorman and Leah Buckley from St Aloysius College, Carrigtwohill, Co Cork, were announced as the overall winners of the 2021 Certified Irish Angus Schools Competition at an exclusive online awards ceremony. The five students all come from a non-farming background, but have won what has become Ireland’s leading agri-competition for secondary school students, organised by Certified Irish Angus, ABP and Kepak. \Finbarr O’Rourke