WATCH: Siobhan Earley one of the friendly faces at the heart of Castlerea Mart for over 40 years

For more than four decades, Siobhan Earley has been a familiar and steady presence at Castlerea Mart, a place she describes as being at the heart of the local community.

Since joining the mart in 1981, Siobhan has worked through huge changes in how livestock sales are run, from handwritten paperwork and long days at the ringside to today’s computerised systems and online bidding.

As office manager, her working day often begins at 7.30 a.m.. Before sales get underway, staff prepare the mart’s three rings, set up computers for online bidding and ensure the weighing scales and display screens are operating correctly.

“Everything is very driven by technology now, everything is completely different compared to years ago,” said Siobhan.

While information now appears instantly on screens, there remains a steady stream of work behind the scenes. As cattle are sold, Siobhan inputs the details needed by staff at the counter, helping to keep the sale moving smoothly.

She remembers when everything was recorded manually, and says the move to computerised systems has made the process more straightforward.

In earlier years, particularly during the busiest seasons, mart days could stretch far beyond ordinary office hours. Siobhan recalls starting at 7.30 a.m. and, on occasion, not finishing until 5 a.m. the following morning.

As Castlerea Mart marks 50 years in business, Siobhan said it is a privilege to be part of an industry that has meant so much to the town.

“Castlerea Mart is the heart of the community here. There’s a great sense of community in the mart itself,” she said.

Over the years, she has seen generations of farming families pass through the mart doors, with buyers, sellers, auctioneers and staff forming lasting connections.

“Honestly, you’re seeing generations of people. I have seen their granddads. The majority of people here, like we’ve all been together for so long, it’s a community,” she said.

That sense of continuity remains central to the mart’s place in Castlerea, where weekly sales continue to bring people together as much for conversation and connection as for trade.

To mark the 50th anniversary, a Mass of Remembrance took place in Ring One, the place where so much of the mart’s story has unfolded.

Siobhan said the occasion was all about remembering all the people that had come through the doors and how grateful they were to them.

* Listen below as Siobhan reflects on the night.