1. The candidate

Joe Healy had a lot going for him. He was seen as the outsider – not on the council when the upheaval occurred in November. He was also the first presidential contender from the west since John Donnelly in 1993, and the only dairy farmer in the hunt at a time of poor milk prices. This gave him a sectoral and geographical base. Then there were his Macra connections, and his colleagues on the farm business committee. Joe is also widely known for his role with the Farming Independent.

2. Macra takes over

Richard Kennedy’s election as deputy means two former Macra presidents are in key IFA positions. Kennedy was Macra president from 1983-85, with Healy from 1995-97. They follow the route taken by Padraig Walshe and the late Joe Rea, both of whom held the Macra reins before taking on the IFA presidency.

3. Location, location

If Healy ticked the demographic boxes, geography was against his competitors. Flor McCarthy’s sphere of influence waned outside Kerry and west Cork. Henry Burns’ Laois base might mean he is only two hours from everywhere but it brought baggage. Eddie Downey’s supporters held a “Laois mafia” responsible for the his demise; despite being absolutely blameless, Burns suffered collateral damage.

4. Western dominance

Three of the four farm organisations now have western leadership. Healy’s counterpart in the ICMSA is Mayo’s John Comer, while Sean Finan, the Macra president, is from Roscommon. The exception is the drystock organisation, the ICSA, whose president Paddy Kent is from Wexford – although his predecessor Gabriel Gilmartin was from Sligo. The INHFA is based in Sligo.It’s quite the turnaround from the normal southern dominance of farm organisation leadership.

5. Trust the poll

The REDC-Irish Farmers Journal poll, taken at the very outset of the election, bore a remarkable similarity to the final outcome. It saw Joe Healy on 53%, Henry Burns on 31% and Flor Mccarthy on 16%. The final figures were 50%, 20% and 19%. Healy had an early lead, and held it, with an assured performance at the hustings, and a vigorous ground campaign, in many cases led by new faces.

6. The new team

Healy and Kennedy will be joined on the executive board by new Munster chair John Coughlan and the re-elected and unopposed Bert Stewart and James Murphy – three hardy barbers who will provide heft to the top team.

That leaves two posts to be filled: national treasurer/returning officer (to be filled at the AGM) and the gridlocked Connacht regional chair. Jer Bergin is seeking re-election for treasurer with Padraic Joyce also standing. If Joyce were to win that contest, it would free Mayo to support one of the other Connacht candidates in the regional election.