An energised crowd at this year’s sell out Women & Agriculture conference witnessed a celebration of Irish farming women, with an inspirational programme of speakers throughout the day.
The event, supported by FBD Insurance was chaired by Irish Country Living columnist Katherine O’Leary, whose passion for championing women across all forms of agriculture is well-documented.
Welcoming the crowds to the Raddison Blu hotel in Little Island in her native Cork, Irish Country Living editor Ciara Leahy promised a day of inspiration.
She chaired a panel discussion featuring Irish Farmers Journal editor Adam Woods and picture editor Philip Doyle who recounted their groundbreaking investigation into Brazilian beef during a review of the news year. News editor Amy Forde spoke of the way in which breaking news stories such as the Mercosur deal and farmer protests were covered by the news team while Jacqueline Hogge gave an account of her work covering the rising crisis of drugs in rural Ireland.
The 600 women in the room were on their feet to deliver a standing ovation to Katherine O’Leary, following a heartfelt tribute by her daughter Julie, who took to the stage to share her own love and admiration for her mother. She finished her speech with a reading of her mother’s favourite poem, Scaffolding, by Seamus Heaney.
While the theme of this year’s conference reflected the ongoing UN International Year of the Woman Farmer, one of the most powerful contributions on the day came from a man.
Liam Butterly is a vegetable farmer from Rush in Co Dublin. He is also a recovering drug addict who bravely shared his story on stage, as part of a rural crime panel which discussed what is becoming an epidemic of drug abuse in rural Ireland.
Liam was joined on the panel, chaired by Jacqueline Hogge, by Detective Inspector Patricia Gill and Tara Farrell, CEO of Longford Women’s Link as the discussion began with a look at another silent yet sinister crime in rural communities; domestic abuse.
Honesty and humour
Lightening the mood, RTÉ broadcaster John Creedon joined Adam Woods to discuss his latest book, This Boy’s Voice. John had a lot of fans in the room and regaled the audience with his many tales from childhood all the way through his career, including a tricky situation at a US radio station in years gone by where he believed he was being interviewed to discuss country and western music, only to discover he was speaking to a Gospel music DJ.
Fair City actress Una Crawford O’Brien spoke of her journey with her partner, Bryan Murray who has Alzheimer’s disease.
She candidly discussed the reality of living with someone you love with dementia and of the difficulties in getting support, not only for Bryan but herself, in the years after his diagnosis. She also criticised the State nursing home support scheme, for inflicting further torment on her at the worst time of her life and said that leaving Bryan at the nursing home was both the worst day of her life and the right decision for them both. She signed off her remarkable speech with the assurance to the women in the room that ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’.
The progress of farming opportunities for women in agriculture in Ireland was assessed in a panel discussion, chaired by Amy Forde, that featured Irish ambassador for the UN International Year of the Farmer Carina Roseingrave, IFA deputy president Alice Doyle and Professor Maura Farrell, University of Galway.
Issues of policy, progress and the potential for the next generation for women in farming were discussed, with all three agreeing that while things are better in 2026, there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure the momentum gathered during this year doesn’t fade.
Finally, keynote speaker Anna May McHugh spoke of how her approach to leading the National Ploughing Association for 53 years came down to never asking anyone to do anything she wasn’t prepared to do herself.
The 92-year-old said her elevation to the role of MD at a time when many women didn’t work outside the home, came with a lot of support from committee members who decided she knew the organising of the ploughing inside out, and was the best person for the job. Anna May received a standing ovation.
Drawing the conference to a close Dee O’Kelly’s Sound Waves choir had the delegates on their feet as the joyous sounds of Jackie Wilson’s Higher and Higher proved to be the perfect note to end the day.
