Abbeyfeale Mart celebrates 50 years of serving the west Limerick community

Michael Ward, cattle sales, John Gannon, auctioneer, Seamus Lane, mart chairperson, John O'Keefe, GVM board member, Martin Kelleher, mart employee and Denis Lane, mart manager at Abbeyfeale Mart

placeholder image — Michael Ward, cattle sales, John Gannon, auctioneer, Seamus Lane, mart chairperson, John O'Keefe, GVM board member, Martin Kelleher, mart employee and Denis Lane, mart manager at Abbeyfeale Mart

Golden Vale Co-Operative Marts opened the mart premises in Abbeyfeale in 1974

The YEAR of 1974 saw Limerick relinquish the Liam MacCarthy Cup and President Erskine Childers was to die in office. On a social level, the country was adjusting to being in the EEC while The Riordan's would have been one of the most popular programmes on Irish television.

In that same year, Golden Vale Co-Operative Marts opened the mart premises in Abbeyfeale, and through the midst of huge social, economic and agricultural changes, the mart has ultimately stood the test of time, serving the west Limerick, north Kerry and north Cork hinterland, with many buyer and sellers coming from far further afield.

A momentous occasion will be held at the mart on Saturday, October 5 at 11 am as it celebrates 50 years in existence.

Looking forward to reminiscing on past memories and remembering all of those who were involved down the years, prior to, of course, the regular Saturday cattle sale.