Back farming after 5 years at the top

IT'S back to the farm this week for the man who presided over the destiny of hundreds of Limerick dairy farmers for the past five years - the former chairman of Dairygold, John Walsh.

In an interview with Farmleader this week, Mr Walsh predicted that "on average, milk price will be better this year than it was in 2007," although the soaring trends of last year may not be repeated.

"I feel that when the average price is calculated, 2008 will have been a better year for milk prices," he said.

Many tributes have been pouring in to Mr Walsh as "the man who put money into farmers pockets" by increasing the value of their shares in the giant co-op, which are now trading at €2.60.

He had served as chairman for five years, and vice chairman for six years before that and had represented Limerick on the board of Dairygold for 18 years. He was also a former county chairman of Macra.

Nobody thought that a Limerick man would be elected to the helm of the Cork based Co-op, but Mr Walsh had proved his mettle. He started out as a member of the committee of Drombanna creamery and in 1980 became the Limerick representative on the Mitchelstown committee and went on ten years later to represent Limerick on the Dairygold board. In 1997 he was elected vice chairman and six years later took over as chairman.