A journey from the ‘Shambles’ to the Showgrounds

THE Midland & Western Livestock Improvement Society Ltd was established in 1926 by farmers from counties Leitrim, Roscommon and Sligo.

The Committee worked closely with the Department of Agriculture from the start to encourage and promote breeding of quality pedigree bulls.

The first sale of pedigree bulls was held at the rear of St Patrick’s Hospital in Carrick-on-Shannon in 1926, and to this day, even though the society draws its members from all over the North West, the event is more commonly known as the Carrick Sales.

Sales were also held in the Shambles Yard, now called Market Yard, before the society took up permanent residence at the Showgrounds on the Boyle Road in 1937, where the top price of £11 was recorded for an Angus Bull.

The Department supported the society in their aim to improve the standard and quality of livestock in the region by purchasing special term bulls which were leased out to farmers at a reduced rate – that animal became the farmer’s property in two years.

The convenience of the railway station to the society’s new grounds was a key factor in Carrick-on-Shannon becoming the main venue for the sale of pedigree bulls.

Given its location so close to the Border, Carrick-onShannon is popular with Northern Irish buyers; the Spring Sales also attract English and international buyers.

In 1996, the society began a building project that saw the construction of an Exhibition Shed. In ’99 they purchased the show grounds, extending to 11 acres, and last year they completed another phase of modernisation – they now have individual stalls for 245 animals.