Thousands mourn the passing of two of farming’s leading figures

THE death last weekend of Sean Healy, the first general secretary of what is now the 86,000-member Irish Farmers Association, was noted with great regret by thousands of farmers countrywide.

He was born in Kilmichael, Co Cork, in 1926. His grandfather was chairman of the Cork Farmers Union, where he was first employed. In 1948, he joined the staff of Macra na Feirme and became its general secretary in 1951.

He then played a key role in the foundation of the NFA. He became full-time secretary from its first meeting in 1955 and became general secretary in 1958, a position he held until 1976.

Mr Healy, who retired in 1987, witnessed at close hand the stirring events that led to the association’s foundation and the subsequent farmers’ rights campaign.

He was the co-author in 1996 with the economist, Professor Louis Smith, of the book Farm Organisations in Ireland — A Century of Progress.

Meanwhile, the death of Seamus Whelan, Ballycullane, New Ross, Co Wexford, brought great sadness to the National Ploughing Association (NPA) where he was assistant managing director.

Seamus was a member of the NPA since 1958 and celebrated 50 years as Ballycullane club secretary just a few months ago. He was also secretary of Wexford County Ploughing Association for many years.

In 1971, Seamus joined the site team marking out the trade stands for the national championships. He was chief exhibition supervisor every year since. He was elected by Wexford County Ploughing Association as NPA Director in 1995 and was appointed assistant managing director in 2004.

Seamus, a Fianna Fáil councillor in Wexford for many years, was actively involved in the selection of Cuffesgrange, Co Kilkenny for next month’s national ploughing championships and he participated fully in plans right up until the end of May.