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.