IFA elects Joe Healy as new President

Joe Healy has been elected as President of the IFA on the first count.

Former president Eddie Downey stepped down from the role last year after member anger over pay at executive level.

From early on this morning, Joe Healy was the frontrunner to take over as President of the Irish Farmers Association.

The dairy farmer from Athenry in Co. Galway has close to 50% of first preference votes, and is seen as a clear swing away from IFA establishment, having never served on the executive.

Last year saw the organisation licking its wounds after revelations of high salaries sparked outrage among grassroots members.

Mixed-enterprise farmer John Coughlan from Cork was elected Munster regional chairman.

Bert Stewart was returned unopposed as North Leinster-Ulster regional chairman, as was James Murphy in South Leinster.

There was no resolution to the Connacht regional chair impasse.