Book promises to lift the veil on recent history of livestock co-ops
The author, Maurice Colbert, was an employee of the Irish Co-operative Organisations Society from 1966 to 2002, working on development of many co-op ventures, but particularly in the livestock sector, as executive secretary of the ICOS marts committee.
He says that his account of the period will be bold and outspoken, setting the record straight on who influenced and opposed many decisions, and the obstacles and challenges which frequently confronted far-seeing and progressive leaders struggling to develop co-operative business in Ireland.
Maurice will reveal how the co-op movement has been far from a complete success story, and will suggest that a lot more could have been achieved.
The 240 page “Recollections of the Co-op Years — A personal Account” will deal in minute detail with meat and livestock co-operatives. It will reveal how turnover in meat and livestock co-ops represented more than 46% of total co-op turnover in 1970, but had fallen to less than 4% by 2004. It will be launched in early July.
