The Irish Hereford Breed Society’s new president Pat McCarthy, Ballymore, Bandon, Co Cork, took up office on Saturday 1 July.
This is Pat’s second term as a member of the society’s council and he brings extensive experience of dealing with dairy and beef farmers from his role as manager of Cork Marts in Skibbereen and Bandon.
A founder member of the West Cork Club, McCarthy has served both as its secretary and as its chairm during the 1990s.
His son Patrick has also served as secretary of the club and part of the club’s organising committee when it hosted an excellent Hereford cattle show at Clonakilty for the visit of the European Hereford Conference tour in 2005.
Bearnagaoithe herd
McCarthy’s Bearnagaoithe herd was founded in 1991 on female lines from Coolbueclan, Skehanore, Carrigroe and Drisheen.
Following the death of his late wife Mary, numbers were reduced significantly, but in 2003 the Bearnagaoithe herd began to rebuild, with the purchase of a heifer from the Lislaughtin herd of the late Harold Fitzell.
McCarthy says it has been a great honour to have been elected president of the society to represent his fellow members, particularly at a time when the Hereford breed is in such demand.
He says that in his own region, demand was never as strong and he believes this is driven initially by easy calving and thereafter by the demand and premium available on Hereford stock from the calf stage right through to slaughter.