Joe Healy makes his acceptance speech following his election as the president of the IFA
Galway farmer Joe Healy has been elected as the new President of the Irish Farmers’ Association.
He was the clear winner of a contest which also involved Laois farmer Henry Burns and Kerry farmer Flor McCarthy.
Healy was nominated by five county executives, including Donegal.
In Donegal he got more votes than the other two candidates together.
Richard Kennedy is the new Deputy President.
How farmers voted – see below
| County | Winner | Total Votes | Burns | Healy | McCarthy |
| Carlow | Burns | 564 | 453 | 99 | 12 |
| Cavan | Healy | 668 | 302 | 330 | 36 |
| Clare | Healy | 1,020 | 274 | 667 | 79 |
| Cork Central | Healy | 1,111 | 362 | 479 | 270 |
| Cork North | Healy | 773 | 155 | 429 | 189 |
| Cork West | McCarthy | 850 | 106 | 261 | 483 |
| Donegal | Healy | 455 | 142 | 289 | 24 |
| Dublin | Healy | 145 | 45 | 94 | 6 |
| Galway | Healy | 3,799 | 84 | 3,702 | 13 |
| Kerry | McCarthy | 3,503 | 42 | 213 | 3,248 |
| Kildare | Burns | 532 | 406 | 116 | 10 |
| Kilkenny | Burns | 1,100 | 669 | 391 | 40 |
| Laois | Burns | 1,949 | 1,916 | 30 | 3 |
| Leitrim | Healy | 366 | 109 | 222 | 35 |
| Limerick | Healy | 1,561 | 272 | 782 | 507 |
| Longford | Burns | 303 | 164 | 113 | 26 |
| Louth | Healy | 266 | 115 | 131 | 20 |
| Mayo | Healy | 1,175 | 57 | 1,089 | 29 |
| Meath | Healy | 769 | 100 | 624 | 45 |
| Monaghan | Burns | 601 | 307 | 269 | 25 |
| Offaly | Burns | 661 | 514 | 141 | 6 |
| Roscommon | Healy | 834 | 257 | 552 | 25 |
| Sligo | Healy | 344 | 94 | 243 | 7 |
| Tipperary North | Healy | 1,266 | 405 | 779 | 82 |
| Tipperary South | Healy | 836 | 203 | 571 | 62 |
| Waterford | Healy | 620 | 87 | 415 | 118 |
| Westmeath | Burns | 431 | 230 | 189 | 12 |
| Wexford | Healy | 1,300 | 449 | 840 | 11 |
| Wicklow | Burns | 291 | 221 | 62 | 8 |
| Total | 28,093 | 8,540 | 14,122 | 5,431 |
(Source – Donegal Now – 20/04/2016)
Joe Healy Elected IFA President After Landslide Victory
IFA National Returning Officer Jer Bergin and Secretary to the Rules Committee Bryan Barry oversee the distribution of ballot papers to 947 IFA branches ahead of voting
Joe Healy has been elected the 15th President of the IFA following a landslide victory today.
Healy took a dominant lead in the race early in the morning and ended up with % of the vote.
The dairy farmer from Athenry had 46% of the votes counted by lunchtime and it was clear from the tallymen around the room that he had an insurmountable lead.
Kerryman Flor McCarthy held onto the second spot early in the day, but it showed a strong Munster bias and after lunch Henry Burns began to pick up votes and passed out McCarthy for second spot.
However, the gap now had Healy with over 10,000 first preference votes by 3pm and it was looking like there was no way Burns could claw back such a lead.
Healy ended with 14,122 first preference votes, Burns received 8,540 and McCarthy got 5,431. It gave Healy 50.28% of the overall vote.
Healy is the first IFA President from the west, since John Donnelly who was the last IFA President from the west, when he won in 1997.
Today’s count comes after weeks of campaigning by the three candidates and debates across the country. Healy has focused his campaign around bringing change to the organisation if elected.
IFA-Map for election
The vacancy within the IFA came after the former President Eddie Downey resigned in November amid pay revelations of the former General Secretary Pat Smith.
The former General Secretary of the IFA’s 2013 salary was €535,000 in total – comprising a basic salary of €295,000, a €150,000 pension contribution and a €60,000 bonus as well as a €30,000 sum from IFA telecom.
It was also revealed that former Presidents were paid in the region of €200,000 a fifth year’s salary on exiting the role.
(Source – Agriland – Margaret Donnelly – 20/04/2016)
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New IFA President Vows To Rebuild Trust in Farm Body