Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal’s weekly podcast at an event to mark the 50th anniversary of the Farmers' Rights March, Adrian Leddy outlined his father’s role in the protest.

The NFA, which became the IFA, marched to Dublin in 1966 to protest at the Department of Agriculture’s refusal to engage on various farm issues, including incomes. Nine farmers sat outside the Department for 21 days until they were invited inside for talks.

“My father Hugh Leddy was on the march to Dublin from Carrick-on-Shannon (Co Leitrim) ... he was chairman of Leitrim IFA and he linked up with Joe Dunphy from Sligo IFA and they were two of the nine men who were chosen to sit on the steps in Dublin,” Leddy said.

Sacrifices

Leddy was 15 in 1966 and his mother was pregnant with his sister at the time. The Leddys had a dairy farm and the responsibility for running the farm fell on the shoulders of the young Adrian. There was also a sense of community which developed.

“There were lots of meetings in the kitchen planning [what the family would do once his father left]. When he headed off on the march, one had to man up and that was with milking the cows. I had to milk his share of the cows as well and they had to be milked by hand. That was the way.

“We appreciated the help and the support from the neighbours ... my father, when he came home, couldn't believe the amount of work that had been done on the farm ... [but] there was a lot of pressure on my mother.

“These are the sacrifices these farmers made for the good of all farmers,” he said

Listen to Adrian Leddy on the Irish Farmers Journal podcast which is supported by Ornua

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