Debates for regional chair are underway

Maurice Brady will this month be making his pitch to become the Ulster/North Leinster Chairperson at a series of debates across the region.

The current IFA county Cavan Chairperson will face his Louth counterpart, Kevin Sweeney in seeing who will replace the out-going chairperson, Frank Brady.

The seven county executives in the region – Cavan, Donegal, Longford, Louth, Meath, Monaghan and Westmeath – will hold election hustings in November, at which members of the county executive will vote.

The debates got underway with the first in the series held in Mullingar on Tuesday followed by a second in the Longford Arms Hotel on Thursday.

The Meath debate will be held in the Ardboyne Hotel, Navan on Wednesday, November 19 at 8pm before they roll into Maurice’s home county of Cavan on Thursday, November 20 with a large attendance expected at the Kilmore Hotel, Cavan.

The Monaghan debate will be held in the The Four Seasons Hotel, Monaghan Town on Thursday, November 27.

Each of the debates commence at 8pm.

IFA National Returning Officer John Carroll is reminding branch delegates in each county that voting will take place on the night, so their attendance is essential to have a say in deciding the new regional chairperson.

“A strong turnout will provide the next regional chair with a clear mandate to represent farmers in the region. It will allow their views and issues to be raised at the national officers’ committee and on national council.”

The result will be announced on Tuesday, December 2 in the Irish Farm Centre, and the next regional chair will take up office at the 2026 Annual General Meeting of the IFA.