Westmeath man Daniel Lynam has been elected as the National Treasurer of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association (ICSA).

Lynam, who is currently the association’s Co. Westmeath chairman, was elected to his new role within the organisation at a recent meeting of the ICSA’s National Executive.

From Castletown Geoghegan, Lynam farms alongside his two sons – David and Donal – on the home farm and on another farm in Tyrrellspass in Co. Westmeath.

Farming enterprises

Focusing primarily on store-to-beef heifers, the Lynams’ herd includes breeds such as Charolais, Simmental and Belgian Blue.

The family also runs a dairy operation in Castletown Geoghegan, rears store lambs and currently has 42ac devoted to tillage.

The newly-elected national treasurer has been actively involved in the ICSA for many years; he recently held a Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Knowledge Transfer reseeding demonstration on the farm of his son David in Tyrellspass.

Dan Lynam, ICSA

The newly-elected national treasurer Dan Lynam

Lynam is also active in membership development initiatives within the association. Speaking following his election, Lynam said: “The ICSA is committed to courageously defending the interests of farmers, both at national and international level.

As an association made up of commercial drystock farmers of all sizes, from right around the country, we implicitly understand the challenges facing the sector.

“It is a privilege to represent the farming community of Westmeath and I look forward to helping to further develop the association at a national level as treasurer.”

The Co. Westmeath man will take over the role from James Reynolds, who is the Deputy President of ‘The National Party’.

At the end of June, the High Court dismissed an application by James Reynolds for an interlocutory injunction against the ICSA.

Through this decision, the interim injunction which was previously granted to Reynolds – which had prevented the group removing him from his roles in the association – was then set aside and full costs were awarded to the ICSA, according to the organisation.

The judge presiding over the case, Mr. Justice Paul Gilligan, maintained that the association “acted in accordance with its constitution” in removing Reynolds from the organisation – and thereby removing him as treasurer.