Cattle buyers and sellers made a welcome return to the country's marts which re-opened today after almost five months of online trading.
But the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society warned farmers the sales will remain subject to strict public health guidelines.
In a statement, ICOS said that it welcomed that the vaccine rollout is "progressing strongly, however, it is essential for nobody to let their guard down and that all necessary precautions should continue to be observed".
Alongside the return of in-ring buying at most of the country's 89 marts, online trading will also continue.
But sales at smaller marts that sell sheep in pens will continue as is.
At one of the country's biggest co-operative marts in Castleisland where over 700 weanlings and calves were for sale today, there was a welcome for the lifting of restrictions on buyers and sellers.
While there can be a maximum of 26 buyers in the ring at any given time, many sellers opted to continue dropping off their animals and keeping in touch with the auction online.
Former chairman of the mart, Richard Hartnett said he was delighted to see farmers back around the ring and expressed the hope that in the near future farmers would be able to stay around and meet with each other.
"The loneliness out in rural Ireland for the past twelve months has been second to none. It will be from now on that we will hear the consequences of all that."
The mart's Sean Brosnan said they tried to introduce online sales over twenty years ago without success but it is now here to stay.
"I am fully convinced people will continue to use the online system especially people buying calves. We've heard of people looking at two marts at the same time buying calves…It is efficient for them, they've got used to judging the animal online. It is working very well; it is a very popular system."
Chairman Timmy Horan said it was great to be back.
"It has taking pressure off a lot of things being able to get back into the ring and hopefully, the sellers will be able to go in as well, but the main thing is to keep to the rules that are there and hopefully everything will run as smooth as can be."
