Cool reception for McConalogue but Higgins prompts cheers from crowds at the Ploughing

Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue took to the Fianna Fáil tent in the early afternoon to speak to reporters, with farmers quickly following in behind the media scrum. Picture: Niall Carson/PA

At the Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska, there were harsh words from farmers to Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue as the rain bucketed down.

All along the road to the site in rural Co Laois, posters from the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) were erected calling on Mr McConalogue to take action on key issues faced by the lobby.

While some called for the Minister to “make payments now” to pressed farmers, others instructed him to “sort the forestry mess”.

When asked if he believed Mr McConalogue would receive a warm welcome at the event, Pat McCormac, president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA), said: “I don’t know if there’s any heat here today.”

Early in the day, pickets were held outside both the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael tents at the event, highlighting issues that farmers are having with Government payments.

The Donegal TD took to the Fianna Fáil tent in the early afternoon to speak to reporters, with farmers quickly following in behind the media scrum. While he was needled about the impacts of the nitrates derogation cut by journalists, one farmer — John O’Brien — made an impassioned speech about how the change would impact on local farmers.

He questioned Mr McConalogue about what would happen to surplus cows and surplus milking equipment that had been purchased by farmers. He added that water quality in his own area had remained stable, despite the herd increase in recent years.

Mr O’Brien was blunt: “What you are proposing and what you haven’t fought for, what your officials didn’t fight for at European level, is going to make jack shit difference to water quality.”

The minister did respond to Mr O’Brien, saying that the derogation issue was one decided at a European level, adding that there is a challenge in getting other EU member states to support Ireland.

While he wasn’t directly heckled by the crowd, it was clear that those gathered were unsatisfied with his reply to the question.

Praise for the President 

However, there is one politician who received heaps of praise from the public at the Ploughing. That politician is President Michael D Higgins.

Those in attendance at his speech opening the festival were in fine form, gathered around in the mud surrounding the bandstand. While the public didn’t break out into applause constantly, his mention of younger people with an interest in farming got quite a reaction, as did his conclusion. A gaggle of choir singers waited diligently for him to finish a round of media interviews before greeting him with open arms.

The President did veer into the realm of climate change and food security but rather than invoking the ire of farmers by telling all within earshot to abandon their steaks and stews, Mr Higgins instead conceded it wasn’t quite as simple as just removing meat from the menu.

“I’ve always eaten quite a lot of fish, for example,” he told reporters.

“Remember, in the speech, I have said everybody is going to have to change.”

He said that some people, who are under great pressure financially as a result of inflation, have become accustomed to “a cheap food policy where you have artificially reduced prices”.

He continued: “But in the same way I think people will be adjusting their own diets, but I don’t simplify it like that, it isn’t as simple as that.

Those in attendance at President Michael D Higgins' speech opening the festival were in fine form, gathered around in the mud surrounding the bandstand. Picture: Niall Carson/PA

“I think people are making choices that are responsible but there is no doubt whatsoever that we’re going to see big changes in diet.”

However, comments made by the President about the United Nations are likely to raise eyebrows in New York, with the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and two other ministers currently attending the general assembly.

While the press conference continued, other ministers and politicians took to the highways and byways of the Ploughing, decked out in wellies and waterproofs as the rain bucketed down for most of the morning and into the afternoon.

While the rain eventually did subside in the afternoon, dark skies and grounds covered in mud kept people in their wellies.

Political anoraks were able to pick up a copy of the proclamation at the Fianna Fáil tent, a bright green cowboy hat calling for a Sinn Féin government, or a Fine Gael tote bag. All this, and a photo with a cardboard cutout of Michael Collins were available to the punters visiting the political side of the Ploughing.

With two more days to go yet at one of Ireland’s biggest festivals, there will be more politicking, more debates on nitrates, and more people caked in muck.