BELGOOLY CHAMPION
ON A personal note, my Dad, Mattie, passed away on Sunday morning, May 14. Thankfully it was peaceful and I was with him, as I was so often throughout my life.
Dad was born a twin, the youngest of 10 children, 85 years ago. He had a wonderful outlook on life.
He had a love of animals, a love of the land, but above all, a love of people.
For me one of the many standout traits he possessed was his greeting with a firm handshake and a smile.
His funeral was a celebration of his memory, of a life well lived. His family, neighbours and friends turned out to pay their respects. They took time out of their busy lives to share their memories, their stories and be with us over those few days.
The support offered by people in rural communities is still phenomenal in Ireland.
Occasions like this get us think- ing across a broad range of matters. We think about the progression of life on the farm and our future goals. Are they clear — do I really want to milk more cows? Do I want to take more time off, will the farm survive without me?
Is there a succession plan in place — is it well documented, have we put enough thought into it?
Is it fair to all family members, are we clear as to their expectations, are we comfortable discussing it with everyone involved?
In hindsight, my Mam and Dad had an easy decision in our family in that I was “the farmer”.
They also were able to let go of the reins before the official transfer of the farm.
This encouraged me and allowed me farm to my potential.
Over the last 30 years, I have focused on improving the farm, increasing scale, improving the profitability.
This was motivated by the need to provide an income for two families and now to ensure we have a viable farm for the next generation to join us.
The Ireland we live in today is very different from the one my Dad grew up in and yet so many things remain the same.
I wonder what the future holds for our family and can we have a positive influence on it?