Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan officially opened Cillín Hill, the flagship multi-purpose centre on the outskirts of Kilkenny city, which is owned and operated by Kilkenny Mart on April 17 last.
The opening was attended by over 600 people from Kilkenny and beyond, with representatives from the farming and business community, founding members of Kilkenny Mart, the Cillín Hill design team, politicians, funders and key decision-makers in Kilkenny.
Opening Cillín Hall, Minister Coughlan said, “I wish to congratulate all parties involved in the relocation of Kilkenny Co-operative Livestock Mart to its new premises at Cillín Hill.
“The foresight, initiative and vision displayed allied to the hard work of many people has helped to create this magnificent, ultra modern, multi-purpose facility that will be anchored by the mart’s main business of livestock sales. The success of the venture underlines the high standards achieved by Kilkenny Mart in meeting the requirements of farmers and the wider community.
“The operation here at Cillín Hill sets a standard that is appropriate to a rapidly changing agricultural environment reliant on vibrant export markets. With this venture, which is the first of its kind in Ireland, Kilkenny Mart is equipped to face the challenges of 21st century markets.
“I would like to compliment the commitment and vision of Kilkenny Co-Operative Livestock Market Committee, the pioneers of this idea, and the expertise and skill of the design team and construction company in bringing this dream to fruition.”
She added, “I commend the approach of enriching the mart experience by offering many alternatives to those visiting Cillín Hill. The complex has the capacity to cater for a wide range of large scale events including trade fairs, exhibitions and concerts."
Michael Lynch, CEO of Kilkenny Mart, said “Cillín Hill is a multipurpose venue that we hope will become the leading venue of its type in the south-east. We have already hosted car auctions, exhibitions and some sales here. Shortly we hope to add conferences, launches & performance events to this list. We believe that it will not only be a valuable addition to Kilkenny Mart's portfolio, but will also contribute significantly to the development of business and tourism in Kilkenny.”
Cillín Hill is owned and operated by Kilkenny Co-operative Livestock Market Ltd (KCLML ), a friendly society, established in 1956 to provide a fair system of trading for farmers. KCLML is a co-operative organisation, governed by a voluntary committee of shareholders who are elected annually at the organisation's AGM. Further info can be obtained from www.cillinhill.com or from www.thehubkilkenny.ie
