Bertie O’Leary, president of the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS), presented the ICOS Plunkett award to Jim Maher at a reception in The Plunkett House in Dublin recently.

Jim Maher served as a committee member of Centenary Thurles Co-op for over 30 years.

In 2002, he was elected chairman and played a crucial role in the merger of Centenary with Thurles Co-op to form Centenary Thurles Co-op and served as chairman of the new combined entity.

In 1991, he was elected to the board of Mid-Tipperary Co-operative Livestock Society. He was also elected to represent the then Centenary Co-op on the council of Avonmore Co-operative back in 1996.

Serving on the boards of both Avonmore Waterford Co-op and Avonmore Waterford plc, he played an active and supportive role in the consolidation and rationalisation of the business post merger.

The progressive dairy farmer established Cooleeney Cheese, together with his wife Breda, in 1986. This business now employs 12 people and exports to over 15 countries, buying high quality milk from the local area.