Cavan farmers in running for influential roles

A Cavan man is one of three contenders to be the next President of the ICSA. Hugh Farrell, a suckler farmer from Ballyconnell, and currently the chair of their Animal Health and Welfare committee, is vying for the position.

The election of ICSA president will take place on Thursday, June 27, in Portlaoise at a meeting of the association’s National Executive. The outgoing president of the farming lobby group is Patrick Kent.
Hugh is one of a trio of candidates in the running to become the next ICSA leader following the close of nominations last Friday. He will face off against Dermot Kelleher (Cork west) and Edmond Phelan (Waterford).
“It’s a national canvass, so it’s the whole country,” Hugh spoke to the Celt of the task in front of him, “The issues are to get more money back into the farmers’ pockets and make farming viable again. Less red tape is something I will also be campaigning on. We need to have a future for farming.”
Hugh says that he has already been getting support from local farmers: “Tom Cooney (IFA National Environment and Rural Affairs Committee Chair) came to wish me well and he has his own election coming up.”
Meanwhile speculation on contenders for the IFA leadership is also in the news. No candidate has officially declared in the race for the post, the outcome of which will be decided by the 72,000 members.
Joe Brady, the IFA’s Rural Development Committee chairman and Cavan representative, has previously indicated that he is “seriously considering” the option of contesting the national presidency of the association.
Other names in the mix include livestock chairman, Angus Woods (Wicklow), Farm business chairman, Martin Stapleton (Limerick), s former national treasurer Jer Bergin (Laois) and Munster regional chairman and Cork dairy farmer John Coughlan.
Joe is not the only Cavan farmer hoping take a position at the top table of the farm body. Beef and dairy farmer from Laragh, Thomas Cooney, will also be facing a couple of months of campaigning. Thomas, the current National Environment and Rural Affairs Committee Chairman with the IFA, announced his candidature for the role of Deputy President of the organisation back in March.
Cooney is the only candidate from Co Cavan expected to contest the vice presidency of the farm lobby group.