Newtownsandes lost money in 2016 and now there’s doubt over who will process its milk next year. Three members of the co-op’s board are up for re-election at next week’s annual general meeting – Denis Flaherty, Willie Sheahan and Myles Kearney. Kearney is new to the board having been co-opted on earlier this year. Although the Moyvane farmer is well regarded, the move by board members to co-opt him disappointed those suppliers who claim the board is past its sell-by date. They argue new members should be chosen by shareholders and milk suppliers, not by other board members. The co-op’s accounts show it made a loss in 2016 of €101,000.