Big changeover on Macra’s National Council at AGM

National council representatives (NCRs)are elected every two years by Macra na Feirme clubs across the country and the newly elected officers will take up their positions at the organisation’s AGM in Bantry this weekend.

Cork

There are five positions on national council for Co Cork. Breda Forrest from the club Awbeg is taking up the Avondhu position, replacing Mary Anne Murphy who is the outgoing competitions chair.

Fiona O’Leary from Dunmanway is the new Carbery representative, replacing the outgoing rural youth committee chair Padraig O’Driscoll.

Áine McCarthy from Killeagh Macra is the new Imokilly NCR, replacing dairy farmer James O’Callaghan.

Eilis Ahern from Carrigaline, former Macra president Alan Jagoe’s club, is taking up the Seandun seat. Ahern has held the Seandun chair position before now.

And Sean Wallace, from Donoughmore Macra, is staying on as Muskerry NCR. He has been national secretary for the last two years.

Munster

Outside of Cork then in Co Clare beef farmer Anthony Burke is staying on. Liz Mason from Limerick City Macra has also been returned to council.

Una Ryan, in south Tipperary, is returning to National Council after taking a year out. The current national treasurer, Marie Hartnett, will continue to represent Waterford.

And John Keane from Devilsbit is the new north Tipperary NCR.

Leinster

Five of the Leinster NCRs are changing. Andrew Doyle, who works for dairy farmers Bryan and Gail Daniels, is a member of Kilkenny City Macra. He is replacing Claire Bambrick as the Kilkenny NCR.

In Meath, Claire Gough is replacing fellow Athboy club member and national chair Eamon Cassells.

Auctioneer Gerard Mahon from Killoughey is the new Offaly NCR, taking over from Noel Duffy. Mahon has been the chair of the Queen of the Land festival in Tullamore for the last number of years.

Well-known Queen of the Land winner and beef farmer Karen Elliffe is taking up the Westmeath seat, replacing Kevin Glennon.

Ricky Oliver, Jonathan Davey, Laura Cross, ag affairs chair James Barber and Geraldine Hoey are all staying on representing their counties Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Laois and Louth.

Cushinstown Macra member Eric Wickham, who is usually seen competing in the farm skills competition, is replacing Richard Dempsey as the Wexford NCR.

And Sarah Condren, the 2010 national dairy stock judging champion, is taking over from Odile Evans as Wicklow NCR.

Northwest

Moving to the northwest, there are four new NCRs. UCD ag science graduate Fergus O’Rourke and Carrigallen Macra member is taking over from Ciaran Clancy in Leitrim. Dairy farmer Diarmuid Murray from south Roscommon Macra will take up the Roscommon position.

Miriam Lynch from Coolaney Macra will become the new Sligo NCR, replacing former national chair David McDonagh. And the new Donegal NCR Danny Haughey, a keen advocate for pothole free roads, from Inthru Macra is replacing Paul McLoughlin.

Ger Harney, Brian Casey, Kieran McDermott, Thomas Duffy and Shane Quigley are staying on as NCRs in Galway, Longford, Monaghan, Cavan and Mayo respectively.

Elections

National council representatives looking for positions on the organisation’s national executive have been busy canvassing other council members in the last few days. Voting for those positions will take place at the AGM on Saturday.

The presidential team will remain unchanged, its elections take place next year.

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