The Sound of Music is a favourite of mine and I hear the Glendalough hills were alive with the sound of canvassing last week.

The IFA hosted its annual hill sheep forum and there were notable faces present as elections draw closer. It was a 50% attendance rate from presidential candidates as Wicklow native and livestock chair Angus Woods made the short drive from Ashford.

Joe Brady made a 300km round trip from Stradone, flanked by a strong Cavan contingent of county chair Elizabeth Ormiston and environment chair Thomas Cooney.

Sole deputy candidate and dairy farmer Brian Rushe was in attendance. Rushe is Kildare and west Wicklow chair and hill farmers will hope his passionate plea for a strong environmental scheme was heard.