Marts have played a vital role in the farming community since the demise of the “fair days” in the 40’s & 50’s. From people dealing on the side of the road for cattle, horses, sheep or pigs the process developed into a business and social event in purpose built facilities where the auctioneer played an increasingly important role.
A report for Teagasc in 2002 discussed the role marts now play in Irish towns. The report states that in the 1990s the cumulative turnover of the country’s markets decreased by 26% whilst operating expenses increased by 25%. Many farmers are now foregoing the trading process and animals are being transferred directly from calf to slaughter with on-farm sales becoming more common also.
Undoubtedly the mart is an important entity in the development of a town such as Roscommon and in a way a unique urban feature– but today many believe it makes more sense to locate marts at the edge of towns. The Teagasc report speaks of the need to rationalize the industry and of how diversification is a sustainable approach for marts into the future – something that will be easier for larger marts to introduce. For example in Leiden, Holland the market premises are used 300 days of the year with most of the business profits actually coming from non-livestock events.
In, recent years the Roscommon Mart acknowledged some of the pressures faced by marts in Irish towns when they sold some land in the adjoining field to Tesco. Today the mart building occupies a central position located at the junction of the new retail sector developing at the Circular Road and the Main Street of the town. Two years ago the mart owners purchased land at Emmoo, Kilteevan less than 2 miles from the present location and have successfully submitted planning application to relocate there and build a two storey livestock mart with gross area of 12,959 sq meters. The application proposes livestock pens, sales arenas, farmers market, vetinary and farm supplies barber shop and canteen.
The location of the mart is pivotal in the organisation of the fabric of Roscommon town and over the years has been a vibrant place of exchange. What would be an appropriate and useful future reuse of this space upon the relocation of the mart?
1. Hennebry T. et al (2002) The Strategic Development of Irish Livestock Marts Teagasc available at http://www.teagasc.ie/research/reports/ruraldevelopment/4921/eopr-4921.asp
2. Lee James, Livestock Marts - The Future available at http://www.realestatealliance.ie/rent/rent-farms/related-topics/livestock-marts-the-future
3.Scott Pauline, Roscommon Mart – 1959-2009 Roscommon People 17 July 2009
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