In an exclusive interview with the Irish Farmers Journal this week, O’Leary spoke on a range of issues, such as his Giggingstown Angus beef herd, the UK electorate’s decision to leave the EU, getting back into farming and what he would do if he was Minister for Agriculture.

On Brexit...

“Funnily, I don’t think Brexit will happen. I think the British will realise they made such a spectacular balls of it that within 18 months I think they’ll change their minds and decide they should stay in.”

He says Theresa May “is playing the political card she has been dealt with. I mean, she wouldn’t be prime minister if it wasn’t for Brexit, but I don’t think anybody in the UK has yet realised how weak their negotiation position is and how difficult the Europeans are going to be to deal with.

“But the idea that Britain is going to leave the biggest single, open-trading bloc in the world so it can create an open economy is absurd.”

On Angus cattle...

“I like the Angus. They’re very pretty stock, they’re smaller frame, they’re lighter on the land, they have very good maternal instincts.

“It’s a good breed because they’re reasonably easy to manage, I didn’t want to be there paying full-time vets’ bills.”

On other breeds...

“At the time when we started, about 20 years ago, all the rich fools like me were all doing Charolais and Blonde d’Aquataines.

“And Belgian Blues were very popular, which I couldn’t understand at all. They’re as ugly as sin. They’re dreadful bloody things.

“Big plough puller. The tractor pulls the plough, I don’t need a Charolais thank you very much.”

On being Minister for Agriculture

“You wouldn’t want me as Minister for Agriculture. I would want to significantly reduce regulation. There’s far too much paperwork, far too much regulation involved in farming now.”

“I’m not a great supporter of the CAP or direct subsidies from Brussels, despite the fact that I get about 40 grand a year out of it.

“It sustains far too many farms that are not viable in this country. Far too many units of land that are and never will be viable.”

You can read the full and exclusive interview by clicking here.

Listen to "Michael O'Leary on farming, his pedigree sale and Brexit" on Spreaker.