Beef and safety minister’s priorities

Beef and safety were Agriculture Minster Simon Coveney’s priorities in his opening address at last Sunday’s Tullamore Show and AIB National Livestock Show.

Acknowledging farming difficulties, he said: “As ever, the industry has its challenges” — and referred to “a tough time the last few months for beef farmers”.

On beef, he said: “Things can be done, and we are doing them.” He said his department was looking for clarity on specifications, prices and bonuses, and was working on cross-border issues. “We are trying to do everything we can.” He said we need to “fundamentally change the mind-set of farmers regarding safety.” He will “help make farmyards safer from a policy and funding point of view”.

The attendance was 50,000 at the Butterfield Estate site, but heavy rain made mucky ground conditions. “Thank the car park attendants on the way out,” said show secretary, Freda Kinnarney, at the opening of the show, referring to the moving of bogged-down vehicles.

The show had been cancelled three times, and there were fears of a repeat for a while on Sunday but, thankfully, that was not the case.

Anybody I spoke to said they had a “brilliant,” “excellent” or “great” day, despite the rain, and much of the talk on the way out of the show grounds was about coming back next year.

AIB National Livestock Show winning exhibitors included the following:

DAIRY

Jersey:

J & M and N Collins (Turlough Miss Daisy 2), Newcastle West, Co Limerick. Reserve: P Gaynor (Mullaghlands Pride Swiss), Mullagh, Co Cavan.

Dairy Shorthorn:

Glenn Carter, Roscrea, Co Tipperary. Reserve: Kenneth Smyth, St Margaret’s Village, Co Dublin.

Junior Holstein-Freisian dairy:

Dermot McCarthy, Kilmallock, Co Limerick. Reserve: John Hurley, Arklow, Co Wicklow.

Super €2,500 national Holstein in milk heifer:

John and Jack Cooney, Bailieboro, Co Cavan. Reserve: John Hurley, Arklow, Co Wicklow.

Super €2,500 senior cow in milk:

David Boyd, Glasslough, Co Monaghan. Reserve: Dermot McCarthy, Kilmallock, Co Limerick.

Senior Holstein-Friesian:

Tadhg Bourke and Cyril Dowling, Kilfinny, Co Limerick. Reserve: David Boyd, Glasslough, Co Monaghan.

BEEF

Irish moiled:

Mark McConnell, Castlefin, Co Donegal. Reserve: Paul Gilligan, Mountrath, Co Laois.

Beef Shorthorn:

Patrick Hehir, Ennis, Co Clare. Reserve: Noel Dowd, Creggs, Co Galway.

Simmental:

Garrett Behan, Portlaoise. Reserve: Keith Vickery, Rosscarbery, Co Cork.

Charolais:

Christy Comerford, Castlewarren, Co Kilkenny. Reserve: Noel Sugrue, Bennettsbridge, Co Kilkenny.

Limousin:

William Smith, Oldcastle, Co Meath. Reserve: Dan Tynan, Mountrath, Co Laois.

Belgian Blue:

David Pearson, Ballacolla, Co Laois. Reserve: Richard and Fidelma Stanley, Bandon, Co Cork.

Angus:

Joe Moran, Goresbridge, Co Kilkenny. Reserve: Albert De Cogan, Castlemartyr, Co Cork.

Hereford:

Padraig Farrell, Athlone, Co Westmeath. Reserve: Eamonn and John McKiernan, Drogheda, Co Louth.

Salers:

Bernard Hunt, Gorteen, Co Sligo. Reserve: Seamus Maher, Roscommon.

Aubrac:

Francis Donohoe, Mullingar, Co Westmeath. Reserve: John Walsh, Donegal.

Blonde d’Aquitaine:

John Barry Moran, Athlone. Reserve: John Lynch, Ballinalee, Co Longford.

Parthenaise:

Paddy Kavanagh, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. Reserve: John Gerard Harney, Athlone, Co Roscommon.

COMMERCIAL CATTLE

Dunbia All Ireland €3,000 commercial steer:

Saoirse and Laoise Carry-Lynch, Kells, Co Meath. Reserve: Robert and Mark McGivern, Carrigtwohill, Co Cork.

Limousin X female calf:

Jimmy and Ann Conlon, Inagh, Co Clare. Reserve: Robert and Mark McGivern, Carrigtwohill, Co Cork.

Limousin X male calf:

Roy and Clive Stevenson, Letterkenny, Co Donegal. Reserve: Roy and Clive Stevenson.

Kepak beef factory animal of the future:

Pearse McNamee, Lifford, Co Donegal. Reserve: Pearse McNamee.

Dawn Meats €2,000 factory heifer:

McCloskey Family, Carndonagh, Co Donegal. Reserve: Pearse McNamee.

Commercial calf:

Pearse McNamee. Reserve: Pearse McNamee.

Commercial cattle senior:

Sean O’Brien, Donegal. Reserve: Oliver Walsh, Sligo.

SHEEP

Texel:

John Neville, Murrintown, Co Wexford. Reserve: Patrick O’Keefe, Mallow, Co Cork.

Vendeen:

John Lynch, Ballinalee, Co Longford. Reserve: Conor & Cheryl O’Brien, Kildorrerey, Co Cork.

Suffolk:

Robert Walker, Croom, Co Limerick. Reserve: Arthur O’Keeffe, Mallow, Co Cork.

Charollais:

John Farrell, Strokestown, Co Roscommon. Reserve: Liam Conway, Ballinasloe, Co Galway.

Rouge de l‘Ouest:

Alaster Swift, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. Reserve: Malcolm Workman, Drumhirk House, Monaghan.

Galway:

John and Mary Greaney, Headford Co Galway. Reserve: Michael Maher, Athenry, Galway.

Beltex:

John & Sean Brown, Durrow, Tullamore. Reserve: Oliver Kearns, Ballymote, Co Sligo.

Jacob:

N & G Fletcher, Roundwood, Co Wicklow. Reserve: Derek Brown, Belturbet, Cavan.

Belclare:

Declan & Joe Miley, Knockcroghery, Roscommon. Reserve: Michael O’Connor, Moone, Co Kildare.

Lleyn:

Mary Gordon, Enniscrone, Co Sligo. Reserve: Raymond Kelly, Templeboy, Sligo.

Zwartbles:

Noel & Teresa Lally, Tullamore. Reserve: Jimmy Smyth, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford.

Border Leicester:

Brian Jordan, Duncormick, Co Wexford. Reserve: Denis O’Shea, Cobh, Co Cork.

Commercial champion:

Andrew Gilmore, Kingscourt, Cavan. Reserve: Aidan Fahy, Ardrahan, Co Galway.

HORSES

In-hand horse:

Martin Murphy, Swinford, Co Mayo. Reserve: Vicky Foster, Rhode, Offaly.

Ridden champion:

Amy Watchorn, Portmarnock, Co Dublin. Reserve: Sorcha O Loughlin, Kildare.

Clydesdale:

Amy Watchorn. Reserve: Angela McCabe, Roscrea, Co Offaly.

Champion dog:

Edel McManus, Moate, Co Westmeath. Reserve: Elaine Kirwan, Nenagh, Co Tipperary.

HORTICULTURE

Bridge House All Ireland championship for collection of vegetables:

Michael Walton, Ballisodare, Co Sligo. Reserve: Harold Lawlor, Durrow, Co Laois.

Bord Bia All Ireland quality potato championship:

Margaret McGoldrick, Dromahaire, Co Leitrim. Reserve: David Curren, Fethard, Co Tipperary.

All Ireland flower arranger:

Mrs Marion McGee, Tyan, Co Armagh. Reserve: Christopher White, Naul, Co Dublin.

COOKERY

Odlums youth All Ireland home cooking:

Niamh Gunning, Portlaoise. Reserve: Rebecca Healy, Tullamore.

INVENTIONS

National inventions competion:

Bernie McNamee, Moyne, Co Longford. Reserve: Slurry Safe Ltd, Ballyduff Upper, Co Waterford.

Home, leisure and building inventions:

Joseph Keniry, Yougal, Co Cork. Reserve: Fergus Munday, Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim.

Labour saving inventions:

Kate Quinn, Dungannon, Co Tyrone. Reserve: Neilus Murphy, Fermoy, Co Cork.