Busy morning at Kilcullen mart 'Calves for Ukraine' sale

With more than 60 calves donated to the Leinster Marts Calves for Ukraine sale today, bidding was busy this morning at a very well attended event, writes Brian Byrne.

In addition to those attending, bids were also coming in from the MartEye auction streaming service, which is supporting the initiative by Kildare West Wicklow IFA.

John Osbourne did the selling, and in advance of the start thanks were expressed for the support of the sale, which was described by Thomas O'Connor, Chairman Kildare West Wicklow IFA, as 'overwhelming'.

Minister Martin Heydon TD also thanked those who had participated in the sale, noting that much of the Ukraine economy is based in farming 'by farmers like ourselves'.

Thomas O'Connor told the Diary that the initiative received much more attention than he and fellow organiser Eugene Lawler had expected, with calves donated from Laois, Kildare and West Wicklow. "There were also a lot cash donations sent in to the mart by people not involved in the calf business," he said.

The entire proceeds of the sale will be given to the Irish Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal. It is also the first calf sale at the Kilcullen mart in over 20 years.

UPDATE: The total raised was €25,000. 

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