Farmers at Tullamore Show hear new ideas for EU agriculture
Farmers in day-off mood at last Sunday’s Tullamore Show and AIB National Livestock Show were a receptive audience for new EU ideas about less specialised, less intensive farming.
With IFA President Joe Healy telling the huge 60,000 attendance of the severe income difficulties on livestock farms this year, and the milk price slump continuing, many of the audience were ready to hear about an EU report favouring a new direction for the Common Agricultural Policy.
According to Mairead McGuinness MEP and Vice President of the European Parliament, speaking at the Show, one of the fundamental shifts in the latest report to the EU Commission is that the next CAP, from 2020, should support “more labour-intensive integrated farming”, that maintains jobs, restores biodiversity and improves ecosystem services such as clean water and soil preservation, thus moving away from specialised farm units.
With environmental damage from farming threatening the sustainability of farming in some areas of the continent, and farmers across the EU threatened by low prices, this report to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker is likely to find a ready audience in leading member states such as Germany and France.
Organisers couldn’t have asked for a better 25th birthday celebration for the big midlands show, as the rain stayed away.
The Show was officially opened by Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Andrew Doyle.
He said, “In a year like this when there’s been challenges across the commodity sectors, we need to remember that without a vibrant primary production sector, the rest of the chain falls down.”
One of the major highlights was the quality of cattle and other animals on display.
More than 2,000 animals competed in the National Livestock Show, all competing for the most coveted awards for livestock in Ireland.
But it was a big day for Macra too, with the Show staging the FBD farm skills final. And in the week that belonged to Olympic silver medal rowers Gary and Paul O’Donovan, it was fitting that Caheragh Macra — from the parish next door to the O’Donovans — kept West Cork among the winners, taking the top prize in the farm skills final, ahead of Moynalty Macra from Co Meath.
Teams were tested in tractor teamwork, farming knowledge, and stock proof fencing, and the Caheragh trio of David Murphy, Dan Collins and Patrick Houlihan came out on top.
In the AIB National Livestock Show, Bryan and Clody O’Connor of Kanturk, Co Cork, followed up their All-Ireland junior cow win and show championship at Charleville with the Senior Holstein Friesian Championship prize for Clongowes Sid Almeric.
There was a two-in-a-row for Martin Ryan, Thurles, Co Tipperary, with his Charolais champion, Goldstar Elle. Exhibitors of the champions included:
Eamonn McLoughney. Nenagh, Co Tipperary. Reserve: Aidan Foody, Ballina, Mayo.
Michael and Ann-Maree Manley, Edenderrry, Co Offaly. Reserve: James Lambe , Castleblayney, Co Monaghan.
Peter Ging, Portlaoise.
Hollie Keenan, Threemilehouse, Co Monaghan. Reserve: Pat Smith, Doneraile, Co Cork
Rachel Corley, Smithboro, Co Cavan. Reserve: Kevin and Brian Smith, Doneraile, Cork.
Bryan O’Connor, Kanturk, Cork. Reserve: Liam Murphy and Lauren O’Toole, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow.
Sarah Murray, Moate, Westmeath. Reserve: Conor Craig, Edgeworthstown, Longford.
Connell Brothers, Oldcastle, Co Meath. Reserve: A&P Kelly, Moate, Westmeath.
A&P Kelly, Moate, Westmeath. Reserve: Darren Hartnett, Athlone, Westmeath.
Connell Brothers, Oldcastle, Meath. Reserve: Daire O’Meara, Ardnacrusha, Co Clare.
Roger O’Halloran, Tralee, Kerry. Reserve: Paddy Blake, Kilcock, Kildare.
Francis and Jennifer Donohoe, Mullingar, Co Westmeath. Reserve: Kelly Stephenson, Donard, CoWicklow.
Margaret Edgill, Daingean, Offaly. Reserve: James White, Ballymitty, Wexford.
Albert De Cogan, Castlemartyr, Co Cork. Reserve: Matthew Goulding, Ballyduff, Co Kerry.
Cathal Duignan, Carrick-on-Shannon, Leitrim. Reserve: Albert De Cogan, Castlemartyr, Co Cork.
Albert De Cogan, Castlemartyr, Co Cork. Reserve: Matthew Goulding, Ballyduff, Co Kerry.
Martin Ryan, Thurles, Co Tipperary. Reserve: Edward Walshe, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan.
Edward Walshe. Reserve: Michael Quin, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co Clare.
Martin Ryan. Reserve: Brendan and Niall Canning, Rosses Point, Co Sligo.
Martin Ryan.
Matthew Goulding, Ballyduff, Co Kerry. Reserve: Sean McKiernan, Corlismore, Co Cavan.
John Appelbe, Clonakilty, Co Cork. Reserve (and Bull Calf Champion): Sarah Murray, Moate, Co Westmeath,
Declan Bell, Clarecastle, Clare. Reserve: John Burke, Ennis, Co Clare.
John and Stephen Lynch, Ballinalee, Longford. Reserve: Robert Tormey, Rathdowney, Co Laois.
Michael Dullea, Drimoleague, Co Cork. Reserve: Des Henry, Durrow, Co Offaly.
John Keane, Kilfenora, Co Clare. Reserve: PJ, C and M Kelly, Rathvilly, Co Carlow.
Tommy and Pauline Fitzgerald, Clonaslee, Co Laois. Reserve: Richard Stanley, Bandon, Co Cork.
COMMERCIAL
Luke Barnett, Lifford, Co Donegal.
SHEEP
Robert Walker, Croom, Limerick. Reserve: Arthur O’Keeffe, Mallow.
Conor and Cheryl O’Brien, Kildorrery, Cork. Reserve: Cíaran Coughlan, Ferbane, Co Offaly.
Michael Maher, Athenry. Reserve: John Greaney, Headford.
John and Sean Browne, Tullamore, Co Offaly (and reserve).
Christopher Johnston, Lifford, Donegal. Reserve: Coote Geelan, Dromod, Leitrim.
HORSES
Michael Egan, Charlestown, Co Mayo.
Timothy Carey, Castletown-Geoghegan, Westmeath.
Geraldine Dempsey, Athenry, Co Galway.
Jane Hennigan, Kells, Co Meath.
Pat O’Boyle, Ballymena, Antrim.
Gary Laird, Ballinasloe, Galway.
NATIONAL INVENTIONS
Liam Murphy, Ballyragget, Co Kilkenny.
Joseph Keniry, Youghal, Cork.
Joseph Keniry.
Mary Murphy, Ballina.
OTHER SHOW RESULTS
Paula Gannon, Athlone, Roscommon.
Caleb Clarke, Nenagh, Co Tipperary.
Mary O’Halloran, Glasnevin, Dublin 11.
Amelia Kerrigan, Clarecastle, Co Clare.
Ronan Kelly Taughmaconnell, Co Roscommon.
Christina O’Brien, Gort, Galway.
Aoife Walton, Strandhill, Sligo.
Thomas Carr, Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath.
Angela M Carragher, Castleblayney, Monaghan.
