THERE was a different look to the annual Ardara Poor Farmers Auction which took place on Tuesday night.
The event, which is traditionally held in Teague’s Bar, was moved to Brockagh Mart this year with all bids coming in online.
A total of €31,220 was raised on the night with all proceeds going to the local Downstrands Counselling Service, the Charlie Bennett Fund and Pieta House. The annual event has raised more than €378,000 for charity over the past fifteen years.
Daniel Moy and Malachy Daniels were the auctioneers who were charged with selling more than one hundred lots which had been sponsored.
The auction attracted some truly amazing bids. Popular lots included a sheepdog pup, hampers, vouchers, feed, services, livestock and much more with lot 82, a Perth Ewe lamb sponsored by Andrew Dunleavy, Loughros Point, selling for €910.
A fat pig sold for €460, ten bags of turf attracted a bid of €310, a lorry load of drainage stone went for €510 while a kilo of carrageen moss (€140) and two round silage bales (€180) also attracted good interest.
“It really was a trip into the unknown this year and we didn’t know how it was going to pan out but thankfully people got behind it and it went very well,” Daniel Moy said.
“With social distancing and one thing and another we didn’t want to go near the pub this year. Hugh McNern, who works for LSL Auctions, offered us their platform while Bernard Harkin and the committee at Brockagh Mart support us every year and we couldn’t look past them.
“A few of us went down the road (to Brockagh) on Tuesday evening and the whole thing was done online. We wanted to make it as safe as possible.
“It’s the first time it’s been out of the pub and thanks to everyone who helped facilitate this year’s auction. Will we be back in Teague’s bar next year? Who knows. It’s been a strange time but once again the local community really got behind the Poor Farmers and helped raise another huge amount of money for charity. Fair play to all involved,” he said.
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