Tim Cullinan threw a party in Nenagh last Saturday, with his hard-working campaign team treated to a night out.
Of course, with another election in the offing, some others were canvassing the locals. Mary Newman Julian and local independent councillor Joe Hannigan were both visible. While The Dealer left his dancing shoes behind, former president and notable Cullinan supporter John Dillon showed how it’s done, especially when partnered with the Farm Centre’s legendary one-woman welcoming committee, Helen Guinan.
If the IFA ever decide to hold a Strictly, my money would be on those two.
Tim’s predecessor Joe Healy is having an event to mark the end of his tenure this weekend, and it promises to also be a celebration, this time of a job well done.
Love Island star to promote Irish milk
I see the NDC has some new recruits in Love Island star Greg O’Shea and world boxing champion Kellie Harrington.
The pair are to be ambassadors for the National Dairy Council’s new ad campaign “Everything starts with milk”.
Before young O’Shea became known for his telly appearance on Love Island, he was a professional rugby sevens player, making him and Harrington a good choice to promote Irish milk across Europe.
Love Island star Greg O’Shea and world boxing champion Kellie Harrington.
Poor advice on green diesel market
The Dealer got a text from a diesel supplier in the middle of last month with the warning “early market oil prices indicate a spike in the price of oil so call me today while prices are still low”.
This turned out to be poor advice as over the following two weeks, prices fell by 5c/l excluding VAT.
Undaunted, the same company texted again last Monday: “After a week of price decreases, today’s market prices indicate a spike in the price of oil so call me today while prices are still low…”
But prices have declined even further this week – by another 2c/l excluding VAT. In old money, that’s another 9c per gallon saving by simply ignoring this unhelpful text.
Ó Scannaill passes on VCI mantle
There’s a new president of the Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI), I note.
A Roscommon native, but working the beat in Wexford, Edward Joe Moffitt has been elected as successor to Peadar Ó Scannaill.
More interestingly, Dr Ailis Ní Riain has been elected deputy president. Dr Ní Riain is the first non-vet to take up the second-highest position within the council and will automatically succeed to be president in two years’ time.
Dr Ní Riain is a qualified human doctor and an expert on crisis pregnancy, having previously served on a Governmental group on abortion. She was appointed to the board of the Veterinary Council in February 2018.
Her appointment marks an end to Ó Scannaill’s tumultuous term as president, the term having seen not one, but four, registrars in place at the top of the body.
So many questions about my calves
There seems to be a slew of surveys coming my way asking about my calves.
One survey from Galway University and Teagasc funded by the Department of Agriculture offered me approximately a €25 One4all voucher for completing the survey. It turned into an imagination survey asking me what were my thoughts on establishing a sexed semen lab in Ireland and would I take a smaller milk cheque in June if it was set up.
Another Department survey (no €25 this time) wanted to know just about the extra bull calves, as if the extra heifer calves weren’t born at all.
Snail farmer makes fast progress
I see a snail farmer from Co Galway was announced as the winner of the 2019 NEWBIE new farm entrant competition.
Steven Ryan from Tuam diversified his parents’ cattle and sheep farm to establish a snail farm in 2014.
He now produces 4t of snails for export every year. Ryan told The Dealer there is a good income to be made from a small piece of land.
He learned the skills from watching YouTube videos, apparently.
New boss in at Hilton Foods Ireland
Michael Lyttle, formerly of LacPatrick/Lakeland and Moy Park, is to take over as boss of Hilton Foods’ Irish operation in the coming days.
Hilton Foods has its Irish headquarters in Co Louth and is listed on the London stock exchange. It counts Larry Goodman as one of its shareholders.
A global player in food and packaging production, Hilton Foods has annual revenue in the region of €2bn.
Two farmers in Farrell’s Ireland squad
With Sean O’Brien now in London and Rory Best hanging up his boots last year, there are now just two farmers named in Andy Farrell’s Ireland match day squad to play Wales on Saturday.
Tadhg Furlong and CJ Stander, both from dairy farms, are the two carrying the flag for farmers.
In the past John Ryan, also of dairying stock, the two Kearney brothers and Will Addision made the grade.
Tim Cullinan threw a party in Nenagh last Saturday, with his hard-working campaign team treated to a night out.
Of course, with another election in the offing, some others were canvassing the locals. Mary Newman Julian and local independent councillor Joe Hannigan were both visible. While The Dealer left his dancing shoes behind, former president and notable Cullinan supporter John Dillon showed how it’s done, especially when partnered with the Farm Centre’s legendary one-woman welcoming committee, Helen Guinan.
If the IFA ever decide to hold a Strictly, my money would be on those two.
Tim’s predecessor Joe Healy is having an event to mark the end of his tenure this weekend, and it promises to also be a celebration, this time of a job well done.
Love Island star to promote Irish milk
I see the NDC has some new recruits in Love Island star Greg O’Shea and world boxing champion Kellie Harrington.
The pair are to be ambassadors for the National Dairy Council’s new ad campaign “Everything starts with milk”.
Before young O’Shea became known for his telly appearance on Love Island, he was a professional rugby sevens player, making him and Harrington a good choice to promote Irish milk across Europe.
Love Island star Greg O’Shea and world boxing champion Kellie Harrington.
Poor advice on green diesel market
The Dealer got a text from a diesel supplier in the middle of last month with the warning “early market oil prices indicate a spike in the price of oil so call me today while prices are still low”.
This turned out to be poor advice as over the following two weeks, prices fell by 5c/l excluding VAT.
Undaunted, the same company texted again last Monday: “After a week of price decreases, today’s market prices indicate a spike in the price of oil so call me today while prices are still low…”
But prices have declined even further this week – by another 2c/l excluding VAT. In old money, that’s another 9c per gallon saving by simply ignoring this unhelpful text.
Ó Scannaill passes on VCI mantle
There’s a new president of the Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI), I note.
A Roscommon native, but working the beat in Wexford, Edward Joe Moffitt has been elected as successor to Peadar Ó Scannaill.
More interestingly, Dr Ailis Ní Riain has been elected deputy president. Dr Ní Riain is the first non-vet to take up the second-highest position within the council and will automatically succeed to be president in two years’ time.
Dr Ní Riain is a qualified human doctor and an expert on crisis pregnancy, having previously served on a Governmental group on abortion. She was appointed to the board of the Veterinary Council in February 2018.
Her appointment marks an end to Ó Scannaill’s tumultuous term as president, the term having seen not one, but four, registrars in place at the top of the body.
So many questions about my calves
There seems to be a slew of surveys coming my way asking about my calves.
One survey from Galway University and Teagasc funded by the Department of Agriculture offered me approximately a €25 One4all voucher for completing the survey. It turned into an imagination survey asking me what were my thoughts on establishing a sexed semen lab in Ireland and would I take a smaller milk cheque in June if it was set up.
Another Department survey (no €25 this time) wanted to know just about the extra bull calves, as if the extra heifer calves weren’t born at all.
Snail farmer makes fast progress
I see a snail farmer from Co Galway was announced as the winner of the 2019 NEWBIE new farm entrant competition.
Steven Ryan from Tuam diversified his parents’ cattle and sheep farm to establish a snail farm in 2014.
He now produces 4t of snails for export every year. Ryan told The Dealer there is a good income to be made from a small piece of land.
He learned the skills from watching YouTube videos, apparently.
New boss in at Hilton Foods Ireland
Michael Lyttle, formerly of LacPatrick/Lakeland and Moy Park, is to take over as boss of Hilton Foods’ Irish operation in the coming days.
Hilton Foods has its Irish headquarters in Co Louth and is listed on the London stock exchange. It counts Larry Goodman as one of its shareholders.
A global player in food and packaging production, Hilton Foods has annual revenue in the region of €2bn.
Two farmers in Farrell’s Ireland squad
With Sean O’Brien now in London and Rory Best hanging up his boots last year, there are now just two farmers named in Andy Farrell’s Ireland match day squad to play Wales on Saturday.
Tadhg Furlong and CJ Stander, both from dairy farms, are the two carrying the flag for farmers.
In the past John Ryan, also of dairying stock, the two Kearney brothers and Will Addision made the grade.
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