Rural crime the focus of meeting
IFA TOP BRASS AND GARDA ADDRESS PACKED MEETING
THE Ballycullane branch of the IFA held their AGM at Powers lounge on Monday night last, with a very large attendance from the farming community present, along with senior members of County Wexford IFA and a representative from An Garda Siochana.
The guest speakers were IFA County Secretary Ger O’Mahony, IFA Beef representative JJ Kavanagh and Garda John Paul Scallan of Ballycullane Garda Station who gave useful information and suggestions on how the recording of tools and equipment should be carried out on farms, as well as licensing information and general safety tips. Chairperson of the Ballycullane branch Anna Kehoe thanked everyone for attending.
Ms Kehoe said; ‘While it was a very tough year in farming – having been hit with all weathers from Storm Ophelia last autumn to Storm Emma in March, and The Beast from the East and then the drought in the dry spell during summer months – farming went from the frying pan into the fire in April, April being the frying pan and July being the fire. Farmers were hit with a year of many extremes from wind damage, flooding, frozen pipes, fodder crisis and to finish it was the drought.’
Ms Kehoe and Secretary Mary Fitzharris said they were delighted with the information presented by the speakers. They thanked Amy Stafford for the light refreshments provided at the close of the meeting.