DEAR SIR: The life and times of Maurice Tierney epitomised an extraordinary period in the evolution of the Irish pig industry, and farming in general. He was a pioneer, whose progressive ideas and tenacity laid the foundations for the transformation of pig production into the modern industry we have today. He established the first intensive pig-breeding unit in Ireland, Clover Meats New Park Farm in Co Waterford, in the 1960s.

Maurice was born in Abbeyside, Dungarvan, in 1930. Maurice attended the local national school from which he received a scholarship to the Christian Brothers in Dungarvan. After the Inter Cert he was awarded a further scholarship to Rockwell College to complete his secondary education. From there he entered the Albert College in Glasnevin and graduated with a BA in agricultural science from UCD in 1950.

His first employment was as an adviser with the Irish Sugar Company. He joined Clover Meats Co-operative Society in 1955. The Clover pig enterprise had a two-fold objective: to supply pigs to the bacon factory and to act as demonstration farms to encourage farmers to get into pigs.

From the outset, he established contacts with leading commercial pig producers in Northern Ireland, such as the McGuckians and Jordans, and quickly realised to compete with them he would have to adopt their best practice in breeding, feeding and housing.

Regulations were an obstacle to overcome. Landrace pigs were banned by the Department of Agriculture and the first animals had to be smuggled into the country in the back of Maurice’s car, at a time when there was a strictly enforced hard border.

State-of-the-art modern buildings were erected and knowledge gained on the feeding of liquid dairy byproducts, such as whey and skim milk, on a commercial scale. The Clover farms were so successful that in one year they were more profitable than the bacon factory. He was also a regular contributor to the Irish Farmers Journal and Justin Keating’s Telefis Feirme educational programme.

Maurice saw pigs as a route to acquiring land, and he purchased his first farm in Ballinamult in west Waterford in 1964, with a loan from the Agricultural Credit Corporation. He went on to establish his own pig unit, building up to 1,200 sows; and a large beef enterprise extending to 600 acres, with some forestry. Maurice was a member of the IFA pigs committee from the outset and served as chair in 1980-1984; during which time he was co-chair of the bacon stabilisation fund.

Maurice was predeceased by his wife Phyl (nee O’Sullivan, Kenmare) and is survived by Hilary, Ian, Nicola, Paul, Elaine and Garreth. In a life lived to the full, Maurice made a difference and all of us have benefited from knowing him. MB