Co-op stalwart Nagle dies
Educated at Blackrock College in Dublin, and Darrara Agricultural College in Clonakilty, he also completed a diploma and other courses at UCC and showed an early interest in the development of the wider agricultural sector.
Like many of his contemporaries, he was a product of Macra na Feirme. A founder member of Buttevant branch, he held a number of officerships at branch, regional and county level.
His involvement in the co-operative movement began when he was elected onto the Board of Ballyclough Co-op in 1959. He served for two periods as vice chairman and was chairman in 1963-1964.
He remained on the board of Ballyclough until the merger with Mitchelstown in 1990 and was then elected onto the first board of Dairygold, a position he held until he retired from the post in 2001.
Billy also served on the boards of Rathduff Cheese Company, the Irish Co-operative Society (Limerick), where he was chairman, the National Dairy Council (chairman 1997-2001), the Irish Dairy Council (1988-1991), Munster Cattle Breeding (1986-2002), Co-operative Travel (1985-2002), where he was also chairman, and Mallow Co-op Mart (1964-2001).
He was well known for his commitment to excellence in cattle breeding. He farmed a pedigree dairy herd in Buttevant and was a founder member of the Cork Friesian Breeders Club, where he served as chairman and president, and the Irish Friesian Breeders Association.
A man with a visionary zeal, he gave more than 40 years of commitment to the co-operative movement through his own co-op and also through his service on the board of the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS).
Having been first elected onto the board of ICOS in 1982, he remained a member until 2001. During his term he became chairman of numerous ICOS committees (Dairy, Animal Health, Industrial Relations, Dairy Industry Pension Scheme and the Irish Foundation for Co-operative Development).
He was elected president of ICOS for the period 1990-1995 and served in this role during the organisation’s centenary in 1994. He was later awarded the Horace Plunkett Award for co-operative endeavour.
Billy Nagle was elected president of COGECA (European Association of Agriculture and Fishing Co-operatives) in 19992/93 and represented European co-operatives in discussions with the EU Council of Ministers, the European Commission and others in the CAP Reform and GATT (now WTO) negotiations. He also gave many years of service to the Royal Dublin Society as a member and as chairman of its agricultural committee.
Mr Nagle is survived by his wife, Mairead, his sister Betty, other relatives and friends.
