Tensions prompt a ‘time out’ as IFA awaits new leader

Initially it had been hoped to hold the AGM before the end of February but the date has now slipped back to either Monday, March 24 or 31.

‘Divided camps’ within the county in the recent national presidential elections have led to an element of division within the IFA in Galway, according to a number of members who contacted the Farming Tribune.

As of this week, only one candidate – Ardrahan’s Pat Murphy – has nailed his colours to the mast in going for the chairman’s job, being vacated next month by Michael Flynn, as his four year term comes to an end.

There had been some speculation that a branch colleague of Pat Murphy’s – Michael Kelly – could also be throwing his hat into the ring for the ‘chair’ but there has been no confirmation of this.

This week, Pat Murphy told the Farming Tribune that he had already visited about 60 of the county’s 77 branches and that he intended to meet all of them before the AGM.

“At the moment, there are three big issues facing farmers in Galway – the factories’ ongoing manipulation of beef prices; CAP details and the whole entitlements issue as well as the flooding problem affecting tens of thousands of acres across the county,” said Pat Murphy.

Prior to the national presidential elections, there was also the Galway IFA vote for the Connacht Vice-Presidency (now the Regional Chairman) late last year, with Tom Turley winning that contest against current County Chairman, Michael Flynn.

According to a number of IFA sources in Galway, the two votes have ‘taken a toll’  in terms of the unity of the organisation in Galway – with the stalling of the AGM, giving time to the different parties to ‘cool off’.

There also had been some speculation that a ‘more senior figure’ in Galway IFA could be nominated as a ‘unity candidate’ for the chair, but so far there doesn’t seem to have been any support for this move.

The ‘men for the jobs’ positions won’t become much clearer until nomination papers have been sent out to the branches and returned.

As well as the chairman’s position, the vice-chair will also be left vacant as Michael Kelly completes his four year term while other vacancies will occur in the livestock committee, the farm family committee and the National Council representative.

County Chairman, Michael Flynn, told the Farming Tribune that the election that saw him take the chair had also taken place in March and that there was no problem with the March date for this AGM.

“We’ve said all along that our meeting must be scheduled to ensure that our National President, Eddie Downey, will be in attendance. We look forward to having him there as our special guest on the night,” said Michael Flynn.