Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Godolphin thoroughbred racing and breeding operation received one of the biggest direct farm payments in Ireland last year.
Godolphin Ireland UC in Co Kildare was paid €200,530.91 in direct payments from the CAP in 2018, Department of Agriculture records show.
Godolphin's operation in Ireland comprises five farms in Co Kildare, one in Co Meath and two in Co Tipperary.
Kildangan Stud
Kildangan Stud in Co Kildare, according to Godolphin, extends to almost 1,500ac and includes accommodation for more than 400 horses and a team of 250 employees.
Located just outside Kildare town, the stud was bought by the Sheikh in 1986 and has bred winning horses Mark of Esteem, Swain, Cape Cross and Singspiel.
Thoroughbreds relaxing at Kildangan Stud in Co Kildare.
Genuine farmers
Earlier this year, IFA president Joe Healy called for the next CAP to be aimed squarely at genuine farmers.
“CAP direct payments can no longer be used to fund Sheikhs and oil barons,” he said at the IFA annual general meeting.
“They should be used for farmers who are up in the middle of the night to calve cows, lamb ewes and work around the clock to harvest crops.
“I don’t think the Sheikh has much experience on the combine or with the calving jack,” he said.
Read more
‘CAP payments can’t be used to fund Sheikhs and oil barons’ – Healy
Top 10 recipients of CAP direct payments revealed
Farms with lowest CAP payments are most reliant on them
Family farm incomes plunge by over 20%
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Godolphin thoroughbred racing and breeding operation received one of the biggest direct farm payments in Ireland last year.
Godolphin Ireland UC in Co Kildare was paid €200,530.91 in direct payments from the CAP in 2018, Department of Agriculture records show.
Godolphin's operation in Ireland comprises five farms in Co Kildare, one in Co Meath and two in Co Tipperary.
Kildangan Stud
Kildangan Stud in Co Kildare, according to Godolphin, extends to almost 1,500ac and includes accommodation for more than 400 horses and a team of 250 employees.
Located just outside Kildare town, the stud was bought by the Sheikh in 1986 and has bred winning horses Mark of Esteem, Swain, Cape Cross and Singspiel.
Thoroughbreds relaxing at Kildangan Stud in Co Kildare.
Genuine farmers
Earlier this year, IFA president Joe Healy called for the next CAP to be aimed squarely at genuine farmers.
“CAP direct payments can no longer be used to fund Sheikhs and oil barons,” he said at the IFA annual general meeting.
“They should be used for farmers who are up in the middle of the night to calve cows, lamb ewes and work around the clock to harvest crops.
“I don’t think the Sheikh has much experience on the combine or with the calving jack,” he said.
Read more
‘CAP payments can’t be used to fund Sheikhs and oil barons’ – Healy
Top 10 recipients of CAP direct payments revealed
Farms with lowest CAP payments are most reliant on them
Family farm incomes plunge by over 20%
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: