In a surprise move, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association yesterday elected a new president, Mr Pat O'Rourke. He replaces Mr Frank Allen, who had led the organisation for the past four years.
Mr O'Rourke, based in Co Longford, had been deputy president to Mr Allen. The ICMSA national council voted Mr O'Rourke as its leader by 33 votes to 27 at a meeting in the Two Mile Inn Hotel, Limerick.
Following his election, Mr O'Rourke paid tribute to Mr Allen and said the outgoing president had been elected a member of the administrative committee of the 40,000-strong association.
He said he had merely exercised his right as a member to challenge the president when he sought re-election for the last two years of a possible six-year run. Such challenges were not without precedent in the organisation.
He hinted at a new militancy and said he would be bringing an action plan to the national executive meeting in January.
Mr O'Rourke said the organisation had representatives from every county in the State and new, younger farmers were getting involved. However, he ruled out any merger with the Irish Farmers' Association.
Mr Allen said he was disappointed at the outcome of the vote but he would continue to serve the interest of farmers and the ICMSA. He was not bitter, and no one had implied that he had not been doing a good job. He was proud of his achievements over the four years.
The organisation elected Mr Jackie Cahill, a Nenagh, Co Tipperary, farmer, its vice-president.