Forget 'Big Brother', everyone is tuning into the ‘Bord Bia five’
The remaining sit-in protesters in Bord Bia Dublin HQ, dubbed 'The Bord Bia 5'.
The Bord Bia five were able to receive their ashes for Ash Wednesday, but nobody is giving up protesting for this Lent period.
Among the five still occupying the Dublin HQ are: IFA treasurer Patrick McCormick, farm family chair Teresa Roche, Wicklow rural development committee member Tom Byrne, Donegal-based farm family and social affairs committee member Christine Friel, and Cavan forestry committee member Richard Moeran.
A spokesperson for Bord Bia confirmed that, at the request of the protesters, Bord Bia had permitted a nun to visit the group and give them ashes for Ash Wednesday.
Sr Julie Doran, of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles (OLA), was one of the few visitors permitted to join and speak with the group. Hailing from a farm in Wexford, Sr Doran sat with the farmers and spent some time with them. She led them in some meditation and prayer.
"She gave us dispensation from Lent. She said, because we've done our duty,” Teresa Roche told the
Farmers and media alike have been tuning in all over the country to check in with the protests that have been ongoing since January 26.
Bord Bia members entered and occupied the building on February 3. Initially, a large crowd took part in an overnight sit-in. Now, 17 days on, the "Bord Bia five" remain.
Discussing the living conditions of the protesters, the Bord Bia spokesperson said: “The area occupied by the protesters is not designed for overnight accommodation.
"Deliveries of food and medicine are also being facilitated ... There is 24-hour security in place, and a health and safety officer checks on the protesters daily.”
Ms Roche, a former nurse turned dairy farmer and cheesemaker, has said the protest and her subsequent sit-in have “been life-changing".
Morale amongst the group remains high, Ms Roche added, as they know they have plenty of support from the protesters outside Bord Bia HQ, their families, and across the country, as well as standing up for what they believe in.
“We're here for a purpose, this is representing agriculture and farmers on the ground,” Ms Roche said, mirroring the anger from farmers regarding Larry Murrin remaining as Bord Bia chair despite his company, Dawn Farm Foods, importing Brazilian beef and chicken.
Ms Roche said that the relationship between corporate Bord Bia and the farmers who buy into their schemes, like the quality assurance scheme, has become fractured, and the organisation's credibility remains in jeopardy as the situation continues.
She reiterated that none of the protesting has been aggressive, with Mr McCormick saying: “We [farmers] don't want to see it [Bord Bia] falling apart, we've invested too much time and effort into it.”
The group is staying steadfast and plans to continue its protests. Tensions were high in the first few days of the sit-in. “We were nervous going into this,” added Mr McCormick.
“We didn’t know whether we would be arrested, or whether we’d be going to court, or dragged out one by one by gardaí … We’re in a better place now, compared to when we first went in.”
On a more domestic note, Richard Moeran, a mixed enterprise farmer who farms sheep, beef, as well as land set aside for forestry, tillage, and a hospitality enterprise out in Cavan, said he “wasn’t flavour of the month” with his wife Jackie Moeran, who has had to take up all the responsibilities of the farm and business while he is away.
“From my position to be just pulled out of the equation overnight really did put my wife under a lot of pressure. I can tell you, she did not thank me for the first week,” Mr Moeran said.
Mr Moeran explained that there were a few times when he thought he might have to return home, but thankfully, entering the second week, his family was able to get help with the farm and relieve some of the pressure off of his wife’s shoulders.
Ms Roche and Mr McCormick have also had to organise and dictate to back home to make sure their own farms and enterprises continue to run smoothly.
Commenting on the rolling 24-hour protests and sit-in at the Dublin HQ, the Bord Bia spokesperson said that the sit-in has caused “significant disruption.”
Over 140 of the Dublin-based staff have been unable to access the workplace for the last three weeks. Bord Bia have also cancelled 20 Transition Year placement students due to the office occupation.
Commercial visits, customer meetings and long-planned events have also been paused, explained the spokesperson: “This disruption will continue while the office is occupied.”
