Tullow Livestock Sales celebrates 70th anniversary

TULLOW Livestock Sales marked 70 years of business with a special 70th anniversary celebratory sale on 20 February. A myriad of councillors, TDs, representatives from the Irish Farming Association, members of the press and clergy and customers, old and new, gathered to sing ‘happy birthday’ to the Tullow mart in and around the main ring.

Before the cake cutting, bishops Adrian Wilkinson and Denis Nulty recited prayers of thanks and for the future prosperity of local farmers.

Former and current employees were then honoured in a thanksgiving ceremony compered by Tullow Livestock Sales managing director Eric Driver. Lily Jackman, Maria Johnson and Hannah Driver were all presented with flowers for their service, with Lily getting a special mention for her dedication to the canteen. In lieu of flowers, Josh Hunter was presented with a cattle stick for his work.

Eric made a special mention of the partners of those who work in the Tullow mart, as the work done by the current employees could not be done without their support.

Kyran and Eamonn O’Byrne, sons of one of the mart’s founders and who were present for the first mart sale, cut into a selection of green and yellow cupcakes laid out in the shape of the number 70.

Tullow mart was founded by the local Brophy, Dawson and O’Byrne families who spotted a gap in the market for a livestock auction in Tullow. The first sale was held on 10 February 1956. Despite livestock trading undergoing something of a revolution in Ireland between the 1950s and today, the mart is still thriving and is owned by the same families.

The mart has had a canteen on its premises since first opening which offers sandwiches, biscuits and their famous rice pudding on sale days. When the mart first opened, it also had a bar that opened during sales days, but that closed 30 years ago.

While the 70th anniversary was a cause for much excitement and celebration, after the cake cutting ceremony, honoured guests were quickly ushered out of the ring so the weekly cattle auction could take place. Celebrations continued into the afternoon in the marquee, where guests were invited to drink tea and coffee and eat sandwiches and cakes.

Have a look at our gallery of photographs, taken by The Nationalist snapper Michael O'Rourke