The Irish Country Living Women & Agriculture conference moved west to Co Sligo for its 2025 renewal, and once again drew a mix of new faces along with returning familiar ones.

The conference is known for its ability to shine a light in dark corners, and this year’s event was remarkable in the candour displayed by its speakers.

These included Ursula Kelly of Cormac Tagging and Mona O’Donoghue Concannon of the Women in Agriculture Stakeholders Group, whose personal stories proved that succession for farms and businesses may not be a smooth or linear process.

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UK succession adviser Heather Wildman’s advice on page 21 is applicable to all Irish families. She urged families to talk early and talk honestly about the farm business, and warned that tax planning and succession planning are two entirely separate matters.