Celebrating 65 years in business, Clare Marts Ltd is one of Ireland’s leading marts with branches in Ennis, Scariff, Kilfenora and Kilrush.
An ability to adapt and move with the times has been central to Clare Marts Ltd’s continued growth and success. The farmer-owned co-operative has faced many challenges down through the years, and none more so than the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and ’21. Its response was to introduce an online sales platform which has proven to be a real game-changer.
General manager and secretary Martin McNamara explains: “It has been a very positive and important development from a seller and buyer’s point of view. A lot of sellers now drop off their cattle and watch the sale online, while a number of buyers have switched to buying exclusively online. It suits part-time farmers in particular. They have embraced the online platform in a big way.
“Online sales would have been frowned upon not so long ago, but it is now the preferred way of doing business for many. It was fast-tracked by Covid and accounts for a large number of weekly purchases. It has brought the industry forward 10 years in one fell swoop. All that farmers have to do is download ‘Livestock Live App’ on their smartphones or log onto the ‘Livestock Live’ website in order to view live sales.
“We use the LSL App which allows them to buy and sell animals on the go with real-time bidding and live video streams.”
Online sales haven’t taken from what continues to be a big day out for many farmers in the area. Since 1959, Clare Marts Ltd has played a key role in bringing buyers and sellers together in Co. Clare, and remains part of the social and economic fabric of the region. The Banner County is renowned for the production of top-quality weanlings, beef and store bullocks and heifers which are produced from a well-established suckler base within the county.
“There is always a great buzz around on mart day,” enthuses Martin, who is 20 years in his role.
“We’re one of the biggest marts in the country, selling 80-85,000 head of cattle and 25-27,000 head of sheep per annum. Cattle buyers travel from far and wide because of a scarcity of quality stock in other parts of the country. The suckler base in Clare, which is under pressure in other areas, is helping to maintain quality. Suckler farming is suited to Clare due to the average land type and many fragmented holdings.
“The sheep trade has also held up reasonably well. It hasn’t been impacted much by the weather as in other parts, but breeding ewes are dropping.”
Committed to providing buyers and sellers with a fair platform, Clare Marts Ltd is part of ICOS (Irish Co-operative Organisation Society) whose core business is to provide vision, leadership and value to the co-operative movement in Ireland. ICOS member co-operatives and their associated companies collectively have over 150,000 individual members, employ 12,000 people in Ireland (a further 24,000 abroad) and have a combined turnover of almost €15 billion.
Clare Marts consists of 2,5000 shareholders and has an annual turnover of €97 million. Its 18-strong committee is chaired by Liam Williams from Kilrush. Martin McNamara is responsible for overseeing the running of the four marts in Ennis, Scariff, Kilfenora and Kilrush. The Ennis site is the co-operative’s flagship and head office where sales are held every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Monday is sheep sale day, Tuesday is weanlings and breeding stock, while Thursdays are culled cows and heifers. Bullocks are also sold on Thursdays in the summer months and on Fridays at other times of the year.
There are three sales rings in operation on Tuesdays and two on Thursdays. In Kilrush, cattle sales are held every Wednesday, while the other two marts are seasonal which only operate in the spring and autumn. Specialised sales also take place from time to time.
“Clare Marts has been owned by the farmers of Clare since its inception. That is something we are very proud of. We are committed to maintaining the high standards we have set for ourselves and strive to improve our service and ensure our customers have the best marketplace in which to sell and buy livestock,” Martin continues.
“Ennis is where most of our sales are conducted. The mart is located on a large site which is also home to many farm-related businesses who supplement and complement our business. We’re in a great location on the Quin Road which is easy to access.”
At Clare Marts Ltd ,the following services are provided: Online sales; Purchase of animals for customers; Transport Arranged; Lairage facilities available overnight; Trading of Entitlements; and Land Letting and Sales.
Major investment has gone into the four marts over the years in order for Clare Marts Ltd to maintain its position as one of the best and more modern in the country. A strong emphasis is placed on the health and safety of visitors and staff as well as on the welfare of the animals. Clare Marts employs a top-class team which includes inhouse auctioneers and those employed on a contract basis.
“Our people are our greatest asset. They enjoy a great rapport with our customers. It’s also a pleasure to deal with hauliers, buyers, sellers and agents from all over Ireland,” the affable Tulla man concludes.
On behalf of its shareholders, committee and staff, Clare Marts Ltd would like to take this opportunity to thank its customers, hauliers and agents for their continued support.
Here’s to the next 65 years!
Clare Marts Ltd
Quin Road,
Ennis,
Co. Clare
Telephone: +353 (0) 65 682 4411
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.claremarts.ie
First published in Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 12 No 3, September/October 2024
