Beef protesters’ disruption at Strokestown Show
The Dealer went along to Strokestown Show last Saturday and was looking forward to watching a number of all-Ireland finals taking place in the cattle rings.
Just as judging was in full swing, another sideshow developed.
It appears a number of beef protesters tried to gain access to the show cabin where public announcements were being made during the day about show classes and results.
It seems the protesters wanted access to the public address system to address the crowd.
When access was denied, they got upset and there was some shouting before they were asked to leave.
Never a dull moment on the Irish show scene.
The hills are alive with the sound of… canvassing
The Sound of Music is a favourite of mine and I hear the Glendalough hills were alive with the sound of canvassing last week.
The IFA hosted its annual hill sheep forum and there were notable faces present as elections draw closer. It was a 50% attendance rate from presidential candidates as Wicklow native and livestock chair Angus Woods made the short drive from Ashford.
Joe Brady made a 300km round trip from Stradone, flanked by a strong Cavan contingent of county chair Elizabeth Ormiston and environment chair Thomas Cooney.
Sole deputy candidate and dairy farmer Brian Rushe was in attendance. Rushe is Kildare and west Wicklow chair and hill farmers will hope his passionate plea for a strong environmental scheme was heard.
Cullinan takes on livestock committee
I see that IFA presidential candidate Tim Cullinan has called on the IFA livestock committee to “change its policy of defending the 30-months age limit”.
Ahead of IFA elections later this year, Cullinan said that the committee’s sticking with this “indefensible requirement” is alienating some farmers and fuelling the protests at factory gates.
He said that “ambiguity on the 30-month age limit is no longer an option for IFA and its abolition would go some way to addressing one of the root causes of the factory protests in the first place”.
The next few weeks should prove interesting.
Beef Plan at the Ploughing
I hear that the Beef Plan Movement is currently in talks with the National Ploughing Assocation to have a presence at the Ploughing in Carlow, so it can air its views.
I’m told nobody, neither the Beef Plan nor the Ploughing organisers, would like protests at this year’s event.
As things ramp up ahead of the National Ploughing Championships in Carlow next week, punters can expect some star-studded appearances as celebrities bust out the wellies.
Marty Morrissey is teaming up with none other than Love Island winner Greg O’Shea at the National Dairy Council tent.
FBD has recruited the O’Donovan brothers at its tent. The insurer must be covering its bases in case another extreme weather event hits and CEO Fiona Muldoon needs rowing off the premises.
Happy birthday Mr Goodman
Larry Goodman celebrated his 83rd birthday last week. In honour of the occasion, a group of farmers from Tipperary made a cake carefully iced with a birthday message for the beef baron.
In the video that emerged on social media, the farmers belted out a happy birthday chorus for Larry and of course cut a slice of cake for Larry and a slice of cake for the farmers.
Needless to say, the farmers’ slice was just a wee bit smaller.
Honorary degree for Anna May
Anna May McHugh, the queen of the plough, and Owen Brennan, group executive chair of Devenish, have both received honorary degrees from Harper Adams. They were two of four people receiving the honours this week. McHugh is the managing director of the National Ploughing Association (NPA) and has been involved in the organisation for over 65 years. Brennan was recently appointed president of Harper Adams in Ireland.
Beef protesters’ disruption at Strokestown Show
The Dealer went along to Strokestown Show last Saturday and was looking forward to watching a number of all-Ireland finals taking place in the cattle rings.
Just as judging was in full swing, another sideshow developed.
It appears a number of beef protesters tried to gain access to the show cabin where public announcements were being made during the day about show classes and results.
It seems the protesters wanted access to the public address system to address the crowd.
When access was denied, they got upset and there was some shouting before they were asked to leave.
Never a dull moment on the Irish show scene.
The hills are alive with the sound of… canvassing
The Sound of Music is a favourite of mine and I hear the Glendalough hills were alive with the sound of canvassing last week.
The IFA hosted its annual hill sheep forum and there were notable faces present as elections draw closer. It was a 50% attendance rate from presidential candidates as Wicklow native and livestock chair Angus Woods made the short drive from Ashford.
Joe Brady made a 300km round trip from Stradone, flanked by a strong Cavan contingent of county chair Elizabeth Ormiston and environment chair Thomas Cooney.
Sole deputy candidate and dairy farmer Brian Rushe was in attendance. Rushe is Kildare and west Wicklow chair and hill farmers will hope his passionate plea for a strong environmental scheme was heard.
Cullinan takes on livestock committee
I see that IFA presidential candidate Tim Cullinan has called on the IFA livestock committee to “change its policy of defending the 30-months age limit”.
Ahead of IFA elections later this year, Cullinan said that the committee’s sticking with this “indefensible requirement” is alienating some farmers and fuelling the protests at factory gates.
He said that “ambiguity on the 30-month age limit is no longer an option for IFA and its abolition would go some way to addressing one of the root causes of the factory protests in the first place”.
The next few weeks should prove interesting.
Beef Plan at the Ploughing
I hear that the Beef Plan Movement is currently in talks with the National Ploughing Assocation to have a presence at the Ploughing in Carlow, so it can air its views.
I’m told nobody, neither the Beef Plan nor the Ploughing organisers, would like protests at this year’s event.
As things ramp up ahead of the National Ploughing Championships in Carlow next week, punters can expect some star-studded appearances as celebrities bust out the wellies.
Marty Morrissey is teaming up with none other than Love Island winner Greg O’Shea at the National Dairy Council tent.
FBD has recruited the O’Donovan brothers at its tent. The insurer must be covering its bases in case another extreme weather event hits and CEO Fiona Muldoon needs rowing off the premises.
Happy birthday Mr Goodman
Larry Goodman celebrated his 83rd birthday last week. In honour of the occasion, a group of farmers from Tipperary made a cake carefully iced with a birthday message for the beef baron.
In the video that emerged on social media, the farmers belted out a happy birthday chorus for Larry and of course cut a slice of cake for Larry and a slice of cake for the farmers.
Needless to say, the farmers’ slice was just a wee bit smaller.
Honorary degree for Anna May
Anna May McHugh, the queen of the plough, and Owen Brennan, group executive chair of Devenish, have both received honorary degrees from Harper Adams. They were two of four people receiving the honours this week. McHugh is the managing director of the National Ploughing Association (NPA) and has been involved in the organisation for over 65 years. Brennan was recently appointed president of Harper Adams in Ireland.
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