The seven contenders for IFA president

Next Wednesday the deadline for nominations closes. As we go to print, seven candidates seek the position, Joe Healy having confirmed his intention to accept the Galway nomination. Each needs their own county’s executive plus five other nominations. A maximum of four will succeed. Here we profile the possible presidents.

Henry Burns

Current: Chair of IFA livestock committee.

Formerly: Chair of IFA sheep committee.

Farms: Suckler, beef and tillage in Mountmellick, Co Laois.

Positives: Passionate, articulate and committed. Burns is well liked and well regarded by many. He knows the struggles of suckler and sheep farmers in the west as well as knowing the difficulties of tillage farmers.

Negatives: Can be too passionate. Can Laois run another presidential campaign, or is it exhausted?

Derek Deane

Current: Carlow IFA chair.

Formerly: Chair of IFA livestock committee, deputy president of IFA.

Farms: Sucklers, beef and tillage in Hacketsown, Co Carlow.

Positives: The catalyst for change in the IFA. His one-man campaign sparked the resignations of Pat Smith and Eddie Downey. His work will lead to much better oversight in the IFA. A former deputy president, Deane has sat on IFA executive council on and off for 15 years.

Negatives: A former deputy president, Deane has sat on IFA executive council on and off for 15 years. While Deane has sparked much-needed change, he was on the interview panel that selected Pat Smith as general secretary in 2009.

Tim O’Leary

Current: Deputy president of IFA.

Past: IFA Cork north central chair, IFA National Council, Farm Business Committee.

Farms: Dairy cows in Carrigrohane, Co Cork.

Positives: Strong orator who won his current position on the strength of the hustings in 2013. Good head for policy. Well known through wife Katherine’s columns in Irish Country Living. Swept Munster in 2013.

Negatives: May be perceived as part of the IFA problems due to current leading role. Criticised for declaring his candidacy within hours of becoming acting president. Needs more than dairy votes and Munster votes.

Flor McCarthy

Current: Chair of IFA rural development committee

Formerly: Kerry county chair, member of Livestock Committee.

Farms: Sucklers and sheep in Kenmare, Co Kerry.

Positives: Good on policy and presided over the committee which helped secure 46% co-funding for the Rural Development Programme. Strong influence on the western seaboard and understands the demands of hill farming.

Negatives: Much less influential in the rest of the country. Starting from south Kerry, it is tough to launch a campaign from a corner of the country.

Nigel Renaghan

Current: Chair of IFA poultry committee.

Past: County positions within Monaghan IFA.

Farms: Poultry and sucklers in Clontibret, Co Monaghan, with his wife Bernice.

Positives: The outsider. Renaghan is a force of nature at times. Secured large increase for poultry farmers supplying Western Brand as well as helping to secure TAMS funding for poultry farmers for the first time.

Negatives: The outsider. Renaghan does not have the profile of others. His work as poultry chair has been progressive, but this work goes largely unnoticed.

Joe Healy

Current: Galway Farm Business chair. Chair of Commonage Implementation Committee.

Past: Macra president 1995-97. Chair of Athenry Mart.

Farms: Dairy and sheep farmer in Galway.

Positives: Not an insider, but still has a high profile, in part through his reporting for the Farming Independent. Only candidate from the west. Fresh face.

Negatives: Twenty years since he was in a national election. Needs to unite Galway (not easy), then Connacht.

Tim Cullinan

Current: North Tipperary chair.

Past: Pig committee chair.

Farms: Pigs.

Positives: Outspoken – he was a signatory to the motion of no confidence in Pat Smith last January. Tipperary has provided three presidents – Rickard Deasy, TJ Maher and Joe Rea.

Negatives: Like Renaghan, he comes from a minority enterprise. This means he is not as well known as others.

Listen to Pat O'Toole's analysis in our podcast below:

Read more

Full coverage: IFA turmoil continues