Rickard, known as Rickardo, passed away in the early hours of Sunday morning 21 August.

He served in the European Commission for up on 20 years before returning home some 10 years ago.

While in Brussels, Rickardo was head of financial services in the European Economic and Social Committee (ESC). He was also the head of computing and telecommunications with the ESC.

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As well as being able to speak multiple languages, Rickardo achieved an economics degree from Trinity College Dublin. He returned home to farm beef and tillage.

He comes from the influential Tipperary family which played a pivotal role in founding and shaping the Irish Farmers Association (IFA).

Rickardo’s father, Rickard, was the second president of the IFA. Rickard served as president between 1962 and 1967 and passed away in 1999.

Rickardo played a pivotal role in the election of his brother Ruaidhri Deasy to the position of vice president of the IFA in 2001.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal on Sunday, former Tipperary North IFA chairman Philip Kinane said Rickard was the “epitome of decency. He cared deeply about farming and had a fierce regard for his father and the work he did. He gave everything he had for farmers".