Limerick IFA honours gentleman John

LIMERICK IFA has bestowed John O’Shea of the Kildimo branch with the association’s highest accolade - IFA Honorary Life Membership.

Sean Lavery, Limerick IFA chairman, said Mr O’Shea “is a very well-known livestock and sheep farmer and has been a very active member of IFA at local, county and national level over the years”.

The certificate of life membership was presented by Damian McDonald, director general of IFA, at the well-attended Limerick IFA AGM in the Woodlands House Hotel.

The occasion brought back memories for Mr O’Shea who recalled travelling to Dublin in 1966 to support those farmers who marched as part of the farmers rights campaign - over half a century ago.

“John has always been vocal at county executive level demanding action whenever farmers’ incomes were under pressure in the beef and sheep sectors as they inevitably were over the years.

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“John represented Limerick on the Western Committee of IFA and played a big part in the classification of much of Limerick into the Disadvantaged Areas. This had a major economic benefit for Limerick farmers. Later, John represented Limerick beef and suckler farmers on IFA’s National Livestock Committee,” said Mr Lavery.

At a time in the 1980s when there was a lot more sheep in Limerick, Mr O’Shea was the founding chairman of the Limerick Lamb Producers Group. He was also a finalist in the Sheep Farmer of the Year competition in 1991

“John and his family supported local sheep farmers by hosting Teagasc demonstrations on sheep management and health,” said Mr Lavery.

The event was also a proud night for Mr O’Shea’s family. Married to Mary, they have three sons - John, Morgan and Michael.

John and Morgan continue as beef and sheep farmers. The trio are regular attendees at Kilmallock Mart.