PICTURES: Vision of Limerick mart’s founders 50 years ago is honoured at special event

ABBEYFEALE was always renowned for its calf fairs and quality of stock. Going back to the days of yore, calves would be sold on the street in the busy market town. This continued until 1974 when a group of men had the foresight to start a mart.

Fifty years on, their vision - and especially that of Ted Hunt, founder member and former chairman - was recognised at the anniversary celebration of Abbeyfeale Mart.

Despite all the preparation, a slight degree of trepidation was in the air that morning, given the inclement forecast that was predicted by Met Eireann.  

“Thankfully, it seemed as if the deceased members of Abbeyfeale Mart were smiling down on the venue, as the heavy rain held off until after the large crowd had made it inside. Past board members and employees remembered their halcyon days in the mart whilst perusing through copies of Seán Liston's book on the history of Golden Vale Co-operative Marts,” said Lorcan Curtin, of the advisory committee.

The normal business of the mart continued as a large number of cattle were unloaded for the sale that would follow the speeches.

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Chair of the advisory committee Seamus Lane introduced the proceedings. He gave a brief history of the mart, from the survey carried out in the early 1970s by students at the local vocational school, to the scale model that was built at that time and the various renovations to the building that had been carried out over the years.  

Maurice Lyons and James O'Connor, of GVM, gave their thoughts and insight before Athea native and founding member, Ted Hunt, gave a powerful speech. He encouraged all involved to take care into the future of what had been built up over the years.

A plaque acknowledging Ted Hunt and the founding members was unveiled, a fitting tribute to all involved fifty years ago.  

Mr Curtin concluded by saying the mart continues on, forging a path ahead into the future like the fabled River Feale that flows beside it.

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