Mayo man Pádraig Gibbons is this year’s recipient of the Plunkett award for co-operative endeavour.

It is the highest national honour presented by the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS). The award is named after Horace Plunkett, founder of the Irish co-operative movement in 1889.

Gibbons, from Westport, was nominated for the award by Aurivo Co-op.

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He has contributed 32 years of voluntary service to the co-operative sector, including 28 years on the board of NCF/Connacht Gold/Aurivo, serving 12 years as chair.

Gibbons was instrumental in major structural developments, including the merger of Kiltoghert Co-op and North Connacht Farmers Co-op in 2000 and their transformation into Connacht Gold – subsequently becoming today’s Aurivo – including the acquisition in 2012 of Donegal Creameries, in developments widely credited to his negotiation and diplomacy skills.

He also served as president of ICOS from 2005 to 2007, becoming the first west of Ireland person to hold the role.