Jim Treacy was born in Coolraney, Inistioge, Co Kilkenny. He was one of four boys and also had a sister, Rena. He attended Inistioge National School, Thomastown vocational school and Warrenstown Agricultural College. Jim, who died on the 10 December 2020 after a short illness, was 71 years of age.

He was a friend of mine for many years, a fellow pig and dairy farmer, and as such, you could always rely on him for advice.

Jim did his apprenticeship with Ken Walsh in the Glen of Aherlow. He got a job managing the pig unit in Rockwell College. He quickly moved on to become farm manager of the college farm, which included a dairy herd, a poultry unit and all that goes with supplying food to the boys in the boarding school run by the Holy Ghost Fathers.

During that time, he had two to three lorries delivering whey to local piggeries, including his own 3,000-pig unit, which he built on a farm that he and his wife Josie bought near Mallow, Co Cork.

Jim was Rockwell’s representative and founder member, along with seven or eight local grain producers including Joe Rea former IFA president, of the Clonag Co-Operative. He was also chair of IFMA (Irish Farm Managers Association). Jim was secretary of the IFA regional pig committee, which held their meetings in the Hotel Minella Clonmel. He was also a member of the IFA national pig committee. Jim and Ollie Leddy from Co Cavan helped to set up the North South Pig Co, which now trades under the Truly Irish brand.

Jim’s greatest achievement was looking after his wife Josie, who worked with him in the office in Rockwell for many years. Josie died in November 2019 after a 10 year illness. I have no doubt that if there is a heaven, they are both there now.

Jim is pre-deceased by his wife Josie, son Colm and survived by his two sons Jonathan and James, his daughter-in-law Clare and grandchildren, brothers Seán, Tom and Luke and his sister Rena.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis. BM