I’ve gone past the Cork Marts building as it was being built, and I called in to see if I could take a few shots. What I found is a modern building which can have a double life as a concert and conference venue (working around the mart days obviously). And given the fact that they are currently setting up building-wide wi-fi broadband, it might just be a suitable future BarCamp venue.
The marts themselves are just that. Marts. Three different livestock marts have closed and combined (literally) under the one roof.
The smallest of the three arenas is the Funcheon Arena which is the new home of the Mitchelstown mart. It deals exclusively with sheep and calves.
The next largest is the Owenacurra Arena which is the replacement for the Midleton Mart. If you haven’t guessed by now, the arenas are named after the rivers that run past the original marts. And I was told what this mart dealt with, but I can’t remember now (sorry).
Before I continue, I had better mention the paintings throughout the building. They are all by Brigid Shelly who is based near Ardmore.
The final and largest arena is the Blackwater Arena, which takes over from the near-by Fermoy cattle Mart.
This Arena is interesting for a few reasons. It’s the only wheelchair accessible arena in the building, and it changes.
The rails around the show area are removable, and a stage can be build over this area, allowing the auctioneers podium to become a stage. There is also a drop down screen for projections, and naturally a (presumable) good sound system for the auctioneer or presenter to use.
There are also the Corrin and Switzer Kingston conference rooms (currently empty and, lets face it, an empty carpeted conference room is less interesting a picture than the arenas) which can seat about 400. They have the projectors and flat screens to repeat the presentation throughout the large room. These flat screens, and the ones in the rest of the building are designed to show the agenda of sales in all the arenas (or in the other rooms) as required. The idea is to prevent missing the sale you’re interested in, but it could be used for a talk agenda at an unconference.
You might be wondering about the catwalks in the sign above. Well…
… the catwalks are the metal walkways above the animal pens where the sale stock can be viewed before the sale.
I can actually see events taking place here, but I doubt the tech geeks and nerds would be let play in there. But if there is a charity date auction… Oh never mind.
The building also has a number of (disturbingly sluice-able) breakout rooms. As well as full catering and bar facilities.
Well, that’s about it, but I’ll have to call in after the building opens to the punters, and the livestock.
take care,
Will Knott
