The new presidential team of Macra na Feirme was announced at the election count in the Irish Farm Centre on Wednesday. The Cavan dairy farmer Thomas Duffy was elected unopposed. However the race for the three vice-presidential elections was hotly contested.

Leinster

The first count on Wednesday was for the position of Leinster vice president. With four candidates it went to a third count, relying on transfers to secure the position. The first candidate knocked out was Veronica Wheatley from Laois with 10 votes. The second candidate knocked out was Eamon Briscoe from Louth with 12 votes including any transfers. Helen Dempsey from Laois was the runner up. Ger Mahon from Co Offaly won by one, with a total of 19 votes, after transfers.

Ger is a member of Killoughey Macra and comes from a suckler farm. He is an auctioneer by trade and is now working for Bord na Mona.

Munster

Sean Wallace, Donoughmore, Co Cork, claimed the title of Munster vice president in a three-man race. The runners up were John Cremin from Limerick and Trevor Coffey from Cork. Sean won on the first count, with 43 first preference votes out of 67.

Sean is from Donoughmore Macra in Muskerry, Co Cork, which is the same club that the current president James Healy is a member of. Sean is a software developer with the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF).

North West

Meanwhile the northwest race was won by Fergus O'Rourke from Leitrim. The runner up in that contest was Shane Quigley from Mayo. Fergus is from Carrigallen Macra and works for Teagasc, teaching green certificate students.

The new presidential team will take up their roles at the AGM which is being held in Kildare in May.

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