THE FORMER president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, Pat O’ Rourke, is to challenge the current president, Jackie Cahill, for the top job today at the organisation’s annual general meeting in Limerick.
Mr O’Rourke, from Co Longford, led the organisation for six years until Mr Cahill’s election four years ago, and his return to active farm politics is causing major trauma in the Limerick-based organisation.
Mr Cahill, a Tipperary-based dairy farmer, and Mr O’Rourke have a history of opposition to one another and the return of Mr O’Rourke has signalled the reopening of this rift.
Running for deputy president of the organisation will be John O’Connor from Mayo and Martin McMahon from Clare.
Speakers at the agm will include Colm McCarthy, the UCD economist and author of the “An Bord Snip Nua” report; Minister for Agriculture and Food Brendan Smith and the Financial Services Ombudsman, Joe Meade.