Westport mart closes

Farmers’ anger as Westport mart closes

Dismay at delivery of news, as dwindling stock numbers cited for another shock closure

Claire Egan

FARMERS in the west Mayo area have expressed anger and dismay at the way in which news of the sudden closure of Westport Mart was delivered to them. Many farmers only became aware of the situation while listening to a local news bulletin on radio last Friday morning, the day the closure took effect.
Huge financial losses and dwindling stock numbers were cited as reasons for the closure of the mart, at a meeting between management of Connacht Gold (CG) and the Local Advisory Committee last Thursday night.
Speaking to The Mayo News yesterday (Monday), local farmer Mr Vincent O’Malley of Kilbree, Westport said he was dismayed at the way Connacht Gold imparted the news, which caught the local farming community by surprise.
“Nobody knew anything about the mart closing. There was a weekly sale held last Monday evening and nothing was said at that meeting nor were any farmers aware that it would close so suddenly. This mart opened with the co-operation of a huge number of farmers in west Mayo who also invested in the establishment of a mart in the local area.
“I only became aware of the situation when I listened to Mid West Radio and the same goes for a large number of members of the farming community. We feel we have been badly treated and that Connacht Gold has shown very little respect for farmers. They should have called a meeting of farmers to tell them the news but instead they chose not to,” said Mr O’Malley.
He also added that the closure creates extra logistical problems for farmers, who previously attended the weekly sale and will now have to travel further afield to sell stock.
Westport mart opened in 1976, under the control of the North Connacht Farmers, later to become Connacht Gold. The mart, located just off the main Westport to Castlebar road, originally operated a one day cattle sale attracting farmers from the western region and the county at large. In  recent years, the mart moved from a day-time to an evening slot, in an effort to boost falling numbers
Management of Connacht Gold defended the decision when speaking to The Mayo News however, pointing out that Westport mart was struggling for a number of years as rapidly dwindling stock numbers culminated in heavy financial losses.
“There are three main reasons for the closure, a decision which has not been taken lightly. One was dwindling stock numbers. In 1995, the average stock going through Westport mart was over 12,500 beasts, a figure which plummeted to 4,700 in 2007, a hugely significant drop. Added to that was the financial costs of the mart; we had a drop in numbers and have experienced a steady financial decline over that period of time. Furthermore, the forecast for future stock numbers indicates a decline. We moved our day-time mart slot to the evening in an attempt to boost sales but that failed to make a substantial difference,” said Mr Martin Walsh, Connacht Gold spokesperson and General Manager of CG Marts and Properties.
He added that significant financial investment would be needed in order to upgrade effluent facilities, IT systems and catering facilities at the Lodge Road mart site.
The decision to close the mart was sanctioned by the Board of Connacht Gold at last Thursday’s monthly meeting in Sligo. A further meeting was held with employees of Westport Mart, while management met in private with the Local Advisory Committee later that night at the Castlecourt Hotel, Westport. An official public announcement was made on Friday morning.
Mr Walsh said that the situation at Westport Mart had been monitored for a period of time. Approximately nine employees of the closed mart will be re-deployed to Balla and Ballinrobe marts.
“We appreciate where farmers are coming from as regards hearing the news. But the Local Advisory Committee is put in place to represent the views of farmers in the area and farmers should communicate with them. We could not tell farmers of the decision until one had been officially made and sanctioned by the Board of Connacht Gold and until that had then been communicated through the official channels,” said Mr Walsh.
He added that there were no plans to close the two remaining Mayo-based CG marts at Balla and Ballinrobe, adding that large numbers of stock passed through both on an annual basis. Extra sales will be scheduled at both marts, at peak periods, to facilitate farmers who previously sold stock at Westport mart.
Planning permission has already been lodged with Mayo County Council for development works at the Lodge Road mart site. This will include an upgrade of an existing Connacht Gold store, the development of a garden centre and commercial units.
Westport Mart opened in 1976, under the control of the North Connacht Farmers, later to become Connacht Gold. The mart, located just off the main Westport to Castlebar road, originally operated a one-day cattle sale attracting farmers from the western region and the county at large. In recent years, the mart moved from a day-time to an evening slot, in an effort to boost falling numbers.