The passing of Michael Walshe last weekend was greeted with great sadness from all of us who knew him as a friend and colleague. Michael graduated with a first class honours degree in Agriculture Science from UCD in 1954.

After graduation, he worked in four organisations (public and private) before he joined An Foras Taluntais (AFT) at Moorepark, Fermoy, Co Cork, as the first officer-in-charge, in March 1959.

Moorepark was a derelict farm when Michael first took the role. By the time he left 12 years later, Moorepark was a fully operational research centre that included land, buildings, animal laboratories and the staff needed to support a competitive dairy and pig industry.

The land area and number of cows devoted to experimentation had increased to approximately 1,200ac, 1,100 dairy cows and 300 sows and their progeny. The Moorepark Research Centre that he developed 70 years ago is now recognised as one of the most prestigious agricultural research centres in the world and represents a worthy legacy to the pioneering work that Michael did.

By the time he left 12 years later, Moorepark was a fully operational research centre that included land, buildings, animal laboratories and the staff needed to support a competitive dairy and pig industry

Not alone did he develop the Moorepark centre from a green-field site, he also gathered and led a world-class team of researchers that provided the crucial information that supported the fledgling Irish dairy industry during the 1960s. The first of many annual open days was held in 1963, with an estimated 10,000 dairy farmers attending the first event.

These open days are an annual feature in Moorepark to this day. He also instigated the idea of demonstration research farms, which replicated the varying soil conditions in Ireland, leading to the extension of the Moorepark research programme onto farms at Mullinahone, Kilmeaden and Ballyraggett.

In 1961/62, Michael took a study trip to Ruakura Animal Research Centre, New Zealand, to investigate the application of New Zealand pastoral research to Ireland. Dr C.P McMeekan was director of the Ruakura Research Institute and they co-authored one of the most cited scientific publications in grassland science: The inter-relationships of grazing methods and stocking rate in the efficiency of pasture utilisation by dairy cattle.

Michael is recognised by his peers, both past and present, as the dynamic leader that laid the foundations for the world-class research effort into sustainable, grass-based, profitable milk production

This one scientific publication has had a major impact on the development of grassland systems in temperate grassland all over the world for the last 60 years.

Additionally, during his visit to New Zealand, Michael realised that farming skills in relation to fencing and milking were lacking in Ireland and he was responsible for introducing the first wire strainer to Ireland.

In 1971, Michael joined the World Bank and made a positive impact on international livestock development, bringing with him his expertise in dairy and grassland management, pig production and, to some people’s surprise, a wide range of negotiating skills in his new role as development officer.

Over the decades, he participated in numerous bank missions to Romania, the Philippines, Laos, Pakistan, as well as many countries in Africa and Latin America.

Michael is recognised by his peers, both past and present, as the dynamic leader that laid the foundations for the world-class research effort into sustainable, grass-based, profitable milk production that, today, supports over 18,000 Irish dairy farmers.

Most of all, Michael will be missed by his wife Pat and family, Anna Marie, the late Ken, Joellen, Sinead and Sean, to whom we extend our deepest sympathies. PD