Sheep and suckler farmer elected
John Deegan was elected in a “photo-finish” at a meeting of the ICSA national executive committee in Portlaoise.
He topped the poll with 41 votes, followed by John Heney, Tipperary, with 31 votes and Martin Coughlan, Wateford, with 26 votes.
In the second count, the distribution of Martin Coughlan’s votes, Deegan received a further eight votes and Heney 18 votes, leaving them with 49 votes each. Returning officer Pat Fitzpatrick declared John Deegan the winner on the basis that he had the higher number of first preference votes.
Mr Deegan, who has served as sheep committee chairman and Leinster vice-president, succeeds Charlie Reilly and will begin his term of office next week.
The president-elect said he hoped to rapidly expand ICSA membership and will work to bring it closer to the grassroots of drystock farming.
He said he also plans to mount a campaign against the importation of beef and sheep meats from countries outside of the EU.
Mr Deegan, who has been farming since leaving school, started without any land and built up gradually to over 300 acres, most of it reclaimed and hilly.
