Watch: Half a century behind the rostrum at Kilkenny Mart
Among the sounds of gates and livestock, the voice of veteran auctioneer, George Candler, has become synonymous with Kilkenny Mart.
Hailing from Co. Roscommon, Candler has spent more than five decades selling cattle and sheep from the rostrum at the mart, having first arrived in Kilkenny as a trainee auctioneer in 1972.
"I'm here 54 years," he told Agriland during out visit.
His path to the Marble County began through connections within the co-op mart network.
The auctioneer said: "My dad was chairman of Roscommon Mart and he knew Michael Gibbons, who was down here [at Kilkenny Mart].
"They had met at ICOS mart committee meetings and [Gibbons] said they were looking for a trainee auctioneer in Kilkenny Mart."
Candler made the move south and quickly settled into life in Kilkenny, although it meant departing from the family farm back home in Roscommon.
"I got involved with Kilkenny and never went back, even though I was the only son.
"I had five sisters at home and Mary, my second youngest sister, took on the mantle at home farming.
"I suppose I might have liked to go back, but so many things came up in Kilkenny. I got involved in musicals, choirs, rugby and all the rest," he recalled.
'I don't play golf'
With 54 years of experience under his belt, Candler admits he could probably have retired by now - but the auctioneer has no plans to step away just yet.
"I should be retired perhaps, but I feel I can still do it and I don't play golf," he laughed.
Golf may be a common hobby among many nearing retirement - but in Candler's eyes, "having a load of cattle to sell in a tough trade" beats teeing off any day of the week.
He said that the people he meets through the job is what keeps him showing up.
"You build up a confidence with the farmer and they'll say 'If George has my cattle, he'll look after them," Candler told Agriland.
Buyers and sellers both feature around the ring, but the auctioneer admitted he has a soft spot for the sellers.
"I've always said I will look after the seller and someone said to me, what about the buyer? Well, normally the buyer can look after himself.
"Maybe I'm incorrect, but if I favour any farmer in there, it would be the seller of cattle here on a Thursday, cows on a Tuesday, sheep on a Monday or dairy on a Monday," he said.
Trends
Over the course of Candler's career, the livestock trade has changed significantly, particularly with the rise of online bidding since the COVID-19 pandemic.
While many farmers have mixed feelings about marts moving online, Candler believes the technology has been a positive development for marts.
He commented: "The online bidding is absolutely magnificent to an auctioneer.
"Fellas around the ring won't agree but on a personal level, I feel it's an absolute gem to have it there."
According to Candler, figures from the mart show just how much the service is being utilised, with around 40% of the cattle being sold online at sales in Kilkenny last week.
"Some of those men might actually be here in the mart itself too, which shows you that it is a medium that has added to the trade," the auctioneer said.
Cattle trade
Speaking after stepping down from the rostrum last Thursday, Candler described cattle trade on the day as "lively", particularly for the store cattle.
He noted that there is a "big divide" emerging in the cattle trade between "heavy cattle and the lighter store."
Candler said that heavy cattle have been trading around €4/kg to €4.30/kg for the better-quality lots, while store Angus cattle have been making between €3.80/kg and €4.40/kg.
Continental types are also reportedly performing well, with some reaching as high as €5.50/kg to €5.80/kg depending on quality.
Calf trade
The calf trade has remained solid in recent weeks as well, according to Candler.
He estimated that roughly 820 calves passed through the ring at Kilkenny Mart's weekly calf sale a week ago (March 10).
Candler also reported that Friesian bull calves were making between €200 to €450 on the day, while continental calves sold from €600 to as high as €850 per head.
While high prices are good news for sellers, the auctioneer acknowledged that "it's a risky business" for buyers.
"Hopefully, the men who are buying them will be rewarded," he said.
St. Patrick's Day
Today (Tuesday, March 17) Candler will be enjoying a starring role of a different kind.
The mart's weekly calf sale took place yesterday because of St. Patrick's Day and today the veteran auctioneer is set to take part in the festivities.
The auctioneer has become an important part of the annual St. Patrick's Day parade in Kilkenny, having served as the Master of Ceremonies over the years.
This year is a particularly significant year for Candler as he will lead the parade as Kilkenny's Grand Marshal.
