ICSA Westmeath chairman, Daniel Lynam, has been elected national treasurer of the association, at a recent meeting of ICSA’s national executive. Hailing from Castletown Geoghegan, Lynam farms in conjunction with his two sons, David and Donal, on the home farm in Castletown Geoghegan and more recently on a farm in Tyrrellspass. A store-to-beef system is predominantly operated on the farm, however they also have a dairying operation, rear store lambs and have 42 acres in tillage.

Speaking following his election as national treasurer Lynam said: “ICSA is committed to courageously defending the interests of farmers, both at national and international level. As an association made up of commercial drystock farmers of all sizes from right around the country, we implicitly understand the challenges facing the sector. It is a privilege to represent the farming community of Westmeath and I look forward to helping to further develop the association at a national level as treasurer.”

Legal dispute

In late June, Justice Paul Gilligan ruled in favour of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association, the ICSA, over a dispute involving its former national treasurer James Reynolds.

In April, Reynolds secured an injunction preventing the farming organisation from removing him from its Longford executive. Reynolds was challenging the ICSA’s decision to remove him from his position on the Longford branch executive and, by extension, his position as national treasurer.

The drystock association wasn’t happy that Reynolds is the deputy president of the right-wing political party, the National Party. It has a policy that says no one can be a spokesperson for a political project or organisation while holding an ICSA national officer position.

The judge said Reynolds had not provided full disclosure in getting the injunction in the first instance. He also said the ICSA’s management committee had acted reasonably in its approach to the dispute. He said the committee had followed the ICSA’s constitution and had provided James Reynolds with due process.

Read more

Calls for underpasses, feed bins and farm roadways to be included in TAMS

In pictures: the famous 135