Three candidates have been nominated to run for Munster regional chair.

Clare IFA chair Willie Hanrahan from the Doonbeg branch, Cork Central IFA chair Harold Kingston from the Barryroe branch and Kerry IFA chair Pat O’Driscoll from the Valentia branch are all running for the role.

Following the penultimate night of voting at the west Cork executive meeting in Dunmanway, they spoke to the Irish Farmers Journal about how they found the campaign and what they propose to do when elected. Votes will be counted on 17 December in the Castleknock Hotel, Dublin.

Willie Hanrahan

Willie Hanrahan is a dairy farmer from Doonbeg, Co Clare.

The campaign: “I found the campaign extremely interesting. We’ve done the tour of Munster in the last month and met an awful lot of people and I was absolutely delighted with the reception we got.

“I thought when we started some of it might not be as good but it turned out to be excellent.”

If elected? “We certainly need to communicate with farmers better. From what people have told me on the ground, there’s a disconnect.

“Within the last month I have been chatting to farmers and we need to communicate with them more and get out and meet them.

“If it means going out on the ground like what I’ve been doing with the last month then so be it. You can also use social media and we have to use every avenue possible to do that and I think that’s what we have to do.”

Harold Kingston

Harold Kingston is a dairy farmer from Courtmacsherry, Co Cork.

The campaign: “It’s been interesting. The big thing I’ve learned is that people have been talking about apathy in the organisation and nobody being interested in what’s going on and the reality is the opposite. We’ve had practically full houses every time. It’s fantastic to see such a turnout.”

If elected? “It’s about using the diversity that exists throughout Munster to our benefit.

“It’s using that diversity, getting the co-operation, visibility of what we do and taking the lead on the discussion because if we don’t take the lead others will make the decisions for us.”

Pat O’Driscoll

Pat O’Driscoll is a suckler and drystock farmer from Valentia Island, Co Kerry.

The campaign: “I found it very interesting. I think you need to get out on the ground and hear people’s stories and listen to their problems and you get a great understanding then on what is actually affecting the people on the ground in all the different areas and sectors.”

If elected? “People say they’ll be supporting the president and the deputy president going forward. I won’t be supporting them, I’ll be driving them. I’ll be looking for the agenda to be pushed on. That’s what I’m going to be looking for and we’ll keep our foot on the gas all the way through. I’ll have more meetings on the ground with county chairs.

“I won’t be bringing speakers to talk to the people, I’ll be bringing speakers to listen to the people.”

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