Economic challenge today ‘similar to Ireland of Plunkett’s day’

THE challenges that Ireland faced when Horace Plunkett helped establish the co-op movement are replicated today in the current unprecedented economic downturn.

Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) president Pat McLoughlin made the comparison at the launch in Dublin of a book by Maurice Colbert on Plunkett’s life and immense influence on the development of Ireland’s agricultural sector.

Mr McLoughlin said in many ways today’s challenges require the same forthright and courageous approach by all sections of society towards a spirit of national co-operation in bringing Ireland back from the brink of collapse.