No surprises as nominations put forward for IFA presidency

THREE candidates have been nominated to contest the election of the next president of the Irish Farmers Association.

There were no surprises as Kilkenny county chairman John Bryan, Inistioge; deputy president Derek Deane, Hacketstown, Co Carlow; and National Dairy chairman Richard Kennedy, Clarina, Co Limerick, were declared candidates.

Each was nominated by his own county executive and receives the support of five other county chairmen.

IFA national returning officer Ruaidhri Deasy confirmed there are 15 candidates for the top six positions, which are directly elected by 85,000 members countrywide.

The positions are those of president, deputy president and the four regional vice presidents covering Munster, South Leinster, Ulster/North Leinster and Connacht.

Candidates will undertake a series of election debates around the country commencing next week and running through to November.

The opening election debate for counties Cavan and Monaghan takes place next Tuesday, October 27, in the Errigal Hotel, Cootehill, Co Cavan.

Branch voting at 947 centres will begin on December 1 and continue until December 16 and the national count will be held in Dublin on December 21. A weighted branch voting system will operate to reflect the strength of turnout by branch members.

The new president will take over from Padraig Walshe at the 2010 IFA annual general meeting in mid January.

John Bryan has the support of the county chairmen from Wexford, Kerry, Mayo, Roscommon and Louth. Derek Deane has the support of the county chairmen from Sligo, Clare, West Cork, Cavan and Kildare. Richard Kennedy has the support of the county chairmen from South Tipperary, North Tipperary, Cork Central, North Cork and Monaghan.

In the race for deputy president, Meath county chairman Eddie Downey and Munster vice president Sean O’Leary go head to head.

Eddie Downey has the support of the Laois, Louth, Cavan, Wexford and Mayo county chairmen, while Sean O’Leary has been endorsed by the Cork Central, West Cork, Waterford, Clare and Limerick county chairmen.

There are three candidates in the race for the position of Munster vice president. West Cork’s Chris Hayes is supported by the North Cork and Limerick county chairmen. Waterford county chairman Michael Keane is endorsed by the North Tipperary and Cork Central chairmen, while Kerry’s John Stack is supported by the Clare and South Tipperary chairmen.