Voting to elect the 15th President of the Irish Farmers’ Association will get under way in IFA branches across the country over the coming weeks with the first of the 947 branches heading to the polls tonight (Tuesday, March 29th).
Note: Updated at 7pm
IFA National Returning Officer Jer Bergin has encouraged farmers to attend the Association’s branch meetings in the 29 County Executives and vote for the positions of President and Deputy President. He said the election is an opportunity for the 75,501 members who have a vote to decide who will lead them for the next four years. He said, “The IFA elections are unique as it allows every member the chance to hear what candidates are offering, and then they have a vote in the national contest. This year’s election will be run on one member one vote. The final debate takes place in Offaly tonight”.
Over 60 branches will vote tonight including Ballintubber, Ballyleague, Curraghroe and Boyle. Following a meeting of the Strokestown Branch last night a decision was made to postpone their Branch Vote until the ongoing issue of the Connacht Regional Chair position had been resolved.
Henry Burns, Joe Healy and Flor McCarthy are running for the position of President while Pat Farrell, Richard Kennedy and Nigel Renaghan are running for the position of Deputy President.
Voting concludes on Friday, April 15th and the National Count will take place in the Castleknock Hotel in Dublin on Tuesday, April 19th. The next President of the Irish Farmers’ Association will take up office immediately and the AGM will be be held on Wed, April 27th in the Irish Farm Centre.
The times, dates and venues for the Roscommon Branch Meetings are outlined below
Ardcarne – Tuesday, April 05, 2016 | Venue: The Sports Complex, Cootehall | Time: 9.00pm
Arigna – Monday, April 04, 2016 | Venue: McCabes Lounge | Time: 9.00pm
Athleague – Thursday, March 31, 2016 | Venue: The Community Centre | Time: 9.00pm
Ballaghdereen – Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | Venue: Spellmans Motel | Time: 9.00pm
Ballinlough – Wednesday, March 30, 2016 | Venue: O’Connors Lounge | Time: 9.00pm
Ballintubber – Tuesday, March 29, 2016 | Venue: The Old School House | Time: 9.00pm
Ballygar – Thursday, April 07, 2016 | Venue: The Old School | Time: 9.00pm
Ballyleague – Tuesday, March 29, 2016 | Venue: The Percy French Hotel | Time: 9.00pm
Boyle – Tuesday, March 29, 2016 | Venue: Dodds Lounge, Boyle | Time: 9.00pm
Castlerea – Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | Venue: The Mart, Castlerea | Time: 9.00pm
Clonown – Friday, April 01, 2016 | Venue: The Community Centre | Time: 9.00pm
Cloonfad – Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | Venue: The Hillside Tavern | Time: 9.00pm
Creagh – Wednesday, April 06, 2016 | Venue: The Moycarn Lodge Hotel | Time: 9.00pm
Creggs – Thursday, March 31, 2016 | Venue: Kilbegnet Hall | Time: 9.00pm
Curraghboy – Wednesday, March 30, 2016 | Venue: Hamrocks Lounge, Brideswell | Time: 9.00pm
Curraghroe – Tuesday, March 29, 2016 | Venue: The Percy French Hotel | Time: 9.00pm
Derrane-Kilteevan – Friday, April 08, 2016 | Venue: Hannons Hotel, Roscommon | Time: 9.00pm
Drum – Monday, April 04, 2016 | Venue: The Old Hall, Drum | Time: 9.00pm
Drumlion – Tuesday, April 05, 2016 | Venue: Glancy’s Waterfront Lounge | Time: 9.00pm
Dysart – Wednesday, April 06, 2016 | Venue: The Community Centre | Time: 9.00pm
Elphin – Wednesday, March 30, 2016 | Venue: An Bothar Rua | Time: 9.00pm
Fairymount – Tuesday, April 12, 2016 | Venue: Boland Lounge | Time: 9.00pm
Four Roads – Monday, April 04, 2016 | Venue: The Community Centre | Time: 9.00pm
Frenchpark – Tuesday, April 05, 2016 | Venue: Into the West Lounge | Time: 9.00pm
Fuerty – Friday, April 01, 2016 | Venue: The Community Centre | Time: 9.00pm
Granlahan – Wednesday, April 13, 2016 | Venue: The Hillside Tavern | Time: 9.00pm
Kilbride-Fourmilehouse – Thursday, March 31, 2016 | Venue: The Community Centre | Time: 9.00pm
Kilmore – Tuesday, April 12, 2016 | Venue: The Community Centre, Dangan | Time: 9.00pm
Kiltoom – Tuesday, April 12, 2016 | Venue: The Hall, Kiltoom | Time: 9.00pm
Knockcroghery – Monday, April 11, 2016 | Venue: Culleen Hall | Time: 9.00pm
Moore – Thursday, March 31, 2016 | Venue: Moore Hall | Time: 9.00pm
Oran – Monday, April 11, 2016 | Venue: The Community Centre, Ballinaheglish | Time: 9.00pm
Rahara – Monday, April 04, 2016 | Venue: The School | Time: 9.00pm
Rathcroghan-Ballinagare – Thursday, April 07, 2016 | Venue: Scotts Lounge | Time: 9.00pm
Roscommon – Friday, April 08, 2016 | Venue: Hannons Hotel, Roscommon | Time: 9.00pm
Strokestown – POSTPONED, new details TBC
Tarmonbarry – Friday, April 08, 2016 | Venue: The Lodge | Time: 9.00pm
Taughmaconnell – Wednesday, April 06, 2016 | Venue: The Community Centre | Time: 9.00pm
Tulsk – Monday, April 11, 2016 | Venue: The Macra Hall | Time: 9.00pm