At the deadline of 10:00am this morning, Wednesday, October 2, the Irish Farmers’ Association’s (IFA’s) national returning officer, Richard Kennedy, announced that three presidential candidates secured the nominations of their own county executive and five other county chairs.
The three candidates nominated to run for IFA president are: Munster regional chairman, John Coughlan; national treasurer, Tim Cullinan; and national livestock chairman, Angus Woods.
President
John Coughlan – from the IFA’s Buttevant branch – is nominated by the Cork North County Executive and Harold Kingston (Cork Central), Corney Buckley (Cork West), Shay Galvin (Limerick), James Murphy (Kilkenny) and Martin Gilvarry (Mayo).
John Coughlan
Tim Cullinan from the Toomevara branch is nominated by the Tipperary North County Executive and Erica O’Keeffe (Tipperary South), Richard Scally (Offaly), John Curran (Meath), Brendan McLaughlin (Donegal) and Willie Hanrahan (Clare).
Tim Cullinan
Angus Woods from the Barndarrig branch is nominated by the Wicklow County Executive and James Kehoe (Wexford), George Collier (Carlow), Jim O’Connor (Roscommon), Francie Gorman (Laois) and Gerard Melia (Louth).
Angus Woods
Deputy president
Two candidates have been nominated to run for deputy president. They are: national environment chairman, Thomas Cooney; and Kildare/West Wicklow IFA chairman, Brian Rushe.
Thomas Cooney – from the Laragh branch – is nominated by the Cavan County Executive and Gavin White (Longford), Erica O’Keeffe (Tipperary South), John Curran (Meath), Brendan McLaughlin (Donegal) and Frank Brady (Monaghan).
Thomas Cooney
Brian Rushe from the Carbury/Cadamstown branch is nominated by the Kildare County Executive and Gerard Melia (Louth), Jim O’Connor (Roscommon), Richard Scally (Offaly), Anne Baker (Cork North) and Shay Galvin (Limerick).
Brian Rushe
Munster Regional Chairman
Three candidates have been nominated to run for Munster regional chairman.
Clare IFA chairman, Willie Hanrahan – from the Doonbeg branch – is nominated by the Clare County Executive and Erica O’Keeffe (Tipperary South) and Corney Buckley (Cork West).
Cork central chairman, Harold Kingston – from the Barryroe branch – is nominated by the Cork Central County Executive and Anne Baker (Cork North) and Shay Galvin (Limerick).
Kerry IFA chairman, Pat O’Driscoll – from the Valentia branch – is nominated by the Kerry County Executive and Imelda Walsh (Tipperary North) and Kevin Kiersey (Waterford).
Connacht Regional Chairman
Two candidates have been nominated to run for Connacht Regional Chairman.
Former Roscommon IFA chairman John Hanley from the Creggs branch is nominated by the Roscommon County Executive and Des McHugh (Leitrim).
Former Galway IFA chairman Pat Murphy from the Ardrahan branch is nominated by the Galway County Executive and Martin Gilvarry (Mayo).
South Leinster
The South Leinster chairman, Tom Short, has been returned unopposed for a second two-year term.
Ulster/North Leinster Chairman
The Ulster North Leinster chairman, Nigel Renaghan, has been returned unopposed for a second two-year term.
Debates
Debates will begin on Monday, October 21, and run until Thursday, November 21.
The election count will take place in Dublin on Tuesday, December 17.
The 16th president of the IFA and the other national officers will take up office at the IFA’s AGM in January 2020.