With a week to go until our Women & Agriculture conference, the Irish Country Living team are putting the finishing touches to our preparations.

There is a lot to look forward to and one of the highlights of the day will be our keynote speaker, Bryan Dobson.

This is a man who has had a front seat view of history in the making. Over the course of his 37 years in the RTÉ newsroom, he covered everything from the IRA ceasefires to the Good Friday Agreement, and then later in his career, the historic visit of Queen Elizabeth to Ireland, a true reflection of the progress made north and south of the border.

He had the microphone in his hand when Nelson Mandela was elected as president of South Africa and he stood in Washington DC during numerous US presidential elections. As the world watched in shock during the 9/11 attacks and when the nation shut its doors during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was Bryan who delivered us the news.

Getting his insight into these breaking news stories as well as his take on the evolution of agricultural policies and politics is sure to be an interesting and impactful close to our conference. There are a limited number of tickets left with full details here (page 13).

Celebrating the editorial pillars of Irish Country Living is a key part of the conference and we’re aware that property and doing up rural houses always captures readers’ attention.

Maggie Molloy got the nation to look at rural homes with a fresh set of eyes when she started presenting Cheap Irish Homes. Where some people see a run-down house beyond repair, Maggie sees a cosy cottage full of potential, ripe for making memories.

However, her visions aren’t utopian, she has real practical advice that can save homeowners, and potential homeowners, thousands of euros.

The panel will discuss the new inheritance tax rules, the barriers to women being named as a successor on farms as well as the importance of communication

During her discussion at the conference, Maggie will be sharing her practical, cost-saving advice. She will also be talking about the renovation grants available, where they are working for people, and where improvements need to be made. To get a preview of her talk, check out her interview with Jacqueline Hogge (page 6.)

Succession will be the talking point on Wednesday, 23 October, the day before our conference in which we will embark on a new addition to the event, a two-hour discussion group. Chaired by news editor of the Irish Farmers Journal Amy Forde, the panel will consist of Klara McGriskin, farm management specialist in Teagasc; Aisling Meehan, agricultural solicitor; and Anne Marie Ryan, a dairy farmer in Co Tipperary.

The panel will discuss the new inheritance tax rules, the barriers to women being named as a successor on farms as well as the importance of communication.

This is an open discussion and anyone that attends can get involved, if they wish. The talk will take place for 45 minutes and then after that, there is ample opportunity to give your contribution to the discussion – whether that’s asking a question, giving some advice or making your opinion heard.

So, if you’re starting out on the succession journey, are in the middle of a transfer and want to speak to someone who can relate or you’ve navigated the succession path and have advice, we welcome you to the discussion group. Full details here (on page 13.)

Whether it is your first or your 15th year attending, we look forward to seeing you in Kilkenny.