One of the oldest and most successful livestock marts in the country, Clogher Valley Livestock Producers, has marked its 70th anniversary – a feat almost unsurpassed in Ireland.

Clogher Mart has grown to be one of the busiest and most successful auction facilities, based in the Clogher Valley with easy access to farmers from over a wide area.

It was in July, 1954 that five Directors – William Boyd, Harrison Boyd, Thomas Barnett, Robert Noble and William McKeown – came together to set up an auction mart; a relatively new concept at the time.

Then, in November, 1954, the first sales took place at the current site in a relatively small way.

Until then, finished or fat cattle had to be graded by a veterinary surgeon on behalf of the Department of Agriculture. The cattle were weighed and then shipped to Great Britain.

The Clogher Mart Directors at the time applied for a certification centre for beef cattle.

The original yard was the grading centre; there were hardcore holding pens (no concrete) and there was no amplification for auctioneers, who were required to sell for up to seven hours.

Last week at a gathering for the Mart’s Directors and their families, as well as past and present employees, the history of Clogher Mart was recalled by Edwin Boyd, who now runs the mart with fellow Directors, Harrison Boyd and Bryan Barnett, all sons of original Directors.

Edwin said his first selling experience was when he was in his late teens, when he sold a black whitehead bull calf and made the transition from assistant drover to auctioneer.

He remembered he bought himself a red whitehead heifer and made a profit of £1.50 when it was sold.

Edwin said the mart was operational through some difficult times, such as BSE, Foot and Mouth Disease, and Covid-19.

He said during Foot and Mouth Disease, the farmers only had the meat factories to sell to, and it was significant that once restrictions were lifted again, the price of stock rose quite a bit.

The mart has expanded considerably and also kept up to date with selling and marketing technology.

The Martbids digital platform they use has been a great success, with an average of 1,000 viewers online on a typical Saturday cattle mart, and at their recent Christmas Fatstock Show and Sale, more than 2,000 people watched online, with a strong percentage purchasing through online bids.

“You must be able to adapt to stay in business,” said Edwin, who was a familiar sight along with his brother, Harrison, at the rostrums at Clogher Mart selling cattle and sheep over many years.

The guest speaker was Ray Doyle, Livestock and Environmental Services Executive with the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society – an umbrella group for the co-operative movement in Ireland, including dairy processing co-operatives and livestock marts.

Ray explained that Clogher Valley Livestock Producers was one of the first to operate as an auctioneering mart, ahead of the Republic.

He concurred with Edwin Boyd that the value of stock after the lifting of Foot and Mouth Restrictions increased by 20 per cent for cattle, and up to 15 per cent for sheep.

He said the online digital platforms has enabled marts to survive and in the future, he says the genetic potential of cattle and sheep will be an important consideration.

There was great camaraderie among dozens of people attending the anniversary in the mart canteen, where current office, drovers and auctioneering met up with those who had worked for decades.