“Fair and sustainable returns for farmers are my goal now,” new Galway IFA chairman Pat Murphy told the Dealer firmly this week.

“Hopefully they’re all behind us now,” he said when I asked him about the recent spats in the county that followed the organisation’s presidential election.

Outgoing national council representative, Pat saw off the challenge of Mullagh farmer Noel Kelly at Monday night’s meeting in the Raheen Woods Hotel, Athenry.

Pat is a liquid milk and beef producer and also finds time to grow potatoes on his farm in Ardrahan. He is on the outer board of Arrabawn and so has a first hand view of how the local co-op is preparing for the future.

Meanwhile, Peter Gohery from Eyrecourt replaces him as the national council rep or as it’s officially called: second delegate to national council. Stephan Canavan is the new county vice chairman.