There has been a changing of the guard at the RDS, The Dealer sees.

Kildare native John Dardis, formerly of this parish, has completed his term as president and was succeeded by Hilary Hough – a long-time member of the society and a former senior executive with Bank of Ireland.

Dardis has had an interesting innings. Along with tillage farming and contributing to the Irish Farmers Journal, he was a founder member of the Progressive Democrats and spent over 18 years in the Seanad between 1989 and 2007.

The release of Dardis from his duties in Ballsbridge, will allow him time to indulge one of his other great passions – fly fishing. Happy casting, John.