Farm industry’s warm welcome for Mary

THE farm lobby last night warmly welcomed the appointment of Mary Coughlan as the country’s first woman Minister for Agriculture and Food.

She will travel to the National Ploughing Championships at Grangeford, Tullow, Co Carlow, today, where she will be greeted by many of the agri-industry leaders with whom she will be working.

Another woman, Anna May McHugh, National Ploughing Association’s managing director, will welcome her to the event, which President Mary McAleese will visit.