Bandon Livestock Mart Weekly Sale

What to Expect

Bandon Mart is one of the busiest livestock marts in Munster, operated by Cork Co-operative Marts on the edge of Bandon town. The regular sale day is Monday, with cattle and calves selling from 10am across separate rings; a second Thursday sale is added during the peak calf season in spring to cope with the extra volume coming through the yard. On a strong Monday sale the mart can process anywhere from around 1,000 to well over 2,500 calves depending on the time of year, alongside a full cattle ring, which gives a sense of the scale of trade passing through. Intake for sellers opens from 8am on sale days, and buyers - trade, farmers, and exporters alike - can also follow and bid on stock online through the Cork Co-operative Marts platform rather than attending in person.

The mart is a working agricultural business rather than a visitor attraction, so it suits farmers, hauliers, and anyone with a direct interest in the livestock trade more than casual browsers, but it remains one of the more useful fixed points on the West Cork farming calendar. Prices and volumes move week to week with the wider beef and dairy trade, so regular attendees tend to use the mart as much for reading the market as for actually buying or selling on any given Monday.

Good to Know

• Regular sale day: Monday, from 10:00am, with intake from 8am.
• Second Thursday sale added during peak calf season, typically February to May.
• One of the highest-throughput calf marts in Ireland at busy times of year.
• Online bidding available via the Cork Co-operative Marts platform for those not attending in person.
• Contact Bandon Mart directly on +353 (0)23 884 1151 for the current week’s schedule.

Getting There

Bandon Mart is located in Bandon town on the N71 southwest of Cork city, roughly a 35-minute drive from the city centre, with on-site parking for sellers and buyers.