Minister praises Farrell contribution

The contribution of Michael Farrell to the growth of Connacht Gold Co-op and to rural development in the west of Ireland was praised by Food Minister Noel Treacy at a dinner in Dublin.

Mr Farrell has retired as chief executive of Connacht Gold, which has a turnover of €250 million, employs over 600 people, processes some 50 million gallons of milk annually and has 15,000 farmer shareholders.

In 1986, he became the chief executive of North Connacht Farmers’ Co-operative (NCF), which merged with Kiltoghert Co-op in 2000 to form Connacht Gold.