I see the latest organisation to be brought down by Ireland’s runaway insurance costs is the Countryside Alliance. The UK-based body is to merge its shooting, angling and conservation membership in the Republic of Ireland with IFA Countryside.

This follows difficulties in obtaining insurance cover and the “extraordinary premium increases” demanded by some international underwriters for cover in the Republic, chief executive Lyall Plant told members.

The organisation will continue to promote country sports as normal in Northern Ireland and Britain – where underwriters clearly feel it’s safe to operate.

In a nice shot in the arm for IFA and FBD, Plant said: “IFA Countryside insurance is currently underwritten by FBD Insurance, an Irish-regulated company with a strong heritage in rural Ireland.”

In a separate statement, the National Association of Regional Game Councils said it would welcome any Countryside Alliance clubs or individuals seeking to join its membership.

Countryside Alliance will continue to represent the interests of hunts in the Republic.

Centenary Ball for Pallaskenry

Pallaskenry Agricultural College is set to celebrate 100 years of Salesians in Pallaskenry on 25 January in style, with mass and a school tour followed by a four-course meal and music at a Centenary Ball in the Woodlands Hotel.

The college is welcoming back past and present pupils and teachers for what is promised to be an enjoyable evening.

The Dealer hopes to see recently retired George Shinnors at the event.

George was an excellent teacher at the college who helped many students over his 41-year career there.

One of Pallaskenry’s more famous sons, TD Michael Healy-Rae, told The Dealer he “adored the Brothers” and his student days there were “a time he would remember forever”. The Dealer wonders will this campaign trail be as memorable for the Independent TD.

Uproar over Channel 4 programme on stealing animals

There was uproar among farmers following a Channel 4 show How to Steal Pigs and Influence People.

The show aired on Tuesday night and followed vegan activists as they attempted to steal pigs from farms in what it called “daring farming heists”.

Farmers, rightly so, complained about the biosecurity risks attached with people coming on to a pig farm, as well as the undue stress caused to the pigs. I see that Mitsubishi Motors, which sponsors documentaries on the channel, moved to distance itself from the show, saying: “Mitsubishi Motors in the UK does not condone criminality or illegal and irresponsible activity in any form.”

Before the show aired, a pig was removed from a farm in Antrim in Northern Ireland by activists. There were no reports of any criminal offence.

Big Combines 4 Charity prizes

I see some big prizes were won at the Combines 4 Charity mega draw last Saturday.

Co Down man Seamus Mc Manus took top prize and is now the proud owner of a new Volkswagen Amarok V6 Comfortline. Charlie, Darragh and Meadhbh Hennessy of Co Cavan will be sharing a new Volkswagen T-Roc, having scooped the second top prize.

Shane Wall of Co Meath will be cruising around in style with a new John Deere Gator, while Co Kerry woman Noreen Lucey scooped €20,000 in cash. Her cheers could be heard in the next parish, I’m told.

Aoife Glennon of Co Meath will spend 2020 touring FBD hotels and resorts with a €3,000 voucher in hand. Michael Byrnes of Co Louth, on the other hand, will spend the year treating the ladies in his life with his Brown Thomas gift voucher worth €3,000. These were just a handful of prizes raffled off on the night.

Gow joins the monks at Glenstal

I hear that Limerick dairy farmer Andrew Gow has taken on the lease of the Glenstal Abbey Farm, owned by the Benedictine order of monks at Murroe in Limerick. Gow, who farms next door to the monastery, plans to milk 500 cows between the two farms. The Abbey Farm consists of 306 acres, including a 57ac outblock which Gow was previously leasing. Leasing out the farm will allow the monks to concentrate on prayer and teaching. The school, on the grounds of the Abbey, is in the top three most expensive schools in the country, with seven-day boarding fees of €19,300 per year.

New premises for McDonnell Bros

McDonnell Bros from Coolagown in Fermoy have completed the purchase of the Farrell Bros premises outside Castletownroche in Co Cork. Farrell Bros has been closed since 2018, with Dairygold Co-Op leasing the premises since then, but they have recently vacated it. The question now is what will McDonnell Bros do with their existing premises in nearby Glanworth?

Bullish lover ends up in hospital

The Dealer was amused – and more than a bit terrified – by a tale from Mexico this week.

Spare a thought for the Casanova who, while preparing for a date with a lady friend, took some Viagra. Or so he thought.

In fact the medication he purchased is more routinely used on bulls in AI stations.

The man required surgical intervention and a lengthy hospital stay.