Bryan takes over IFA leadership

The new leader of the country's largest farming organisation will formally take up his position today.

Fifty-one-year-old John Bryan succeeds Padraig Walshe as 13th president of the Irish Farmers Assocation.

Last December Bryan, a beef farmer from Inistioge in Co Kilkenny, cruised to victory in the IFA elections.

In one of the highest ever turnouts in IFA history, he received almost twice as many votes as his nearest rival.

John Bryan is a former garda and is married with two children.

He was the IFA's national livestock chairman from 2004 to 2008 and at the time of his election was the Kilkenny IFA county chairman.

His was instrumental in the IFA's campaign to have Brazilian beef banned.

When John Bryan takes over the reins of power today, he will identify negotiations on the Common Agricultural Policy post 20-13 as the first major challenge of his presidency.