2024 AGM - notes and Committee updates

On November 21st 2024 the Irish Pure Friesian Club held its AGM at The Horse & Jockey*, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

The meeting was opened by the chairman Patrick Quealy. Oliver Dempsey, the club's representative on the board of the IHFA gave a detailed report on the IHFA's plans, including interesting moves by Teagasc and UCD to carry out research on black & white cows, taking a different approach to EBI.

We then had a great discussion with club members Bill O'Keeffe and Conor O'Leary, two active and busy men in the IFA. They generously gave time to the members of the club to discuss issues, topics and policies relevant to our group. It was a valuable chance for members to get the insights and view from a national and even European level.

The chairman then gave a review of the year, highlights include:

• The hugely successful National Open Day at Carrickshock where Pat & Claire Cleary's herd and hospitality were top notch. In fact, the open day was so good, it's forced a rethink of the event - more on that later.

• Another competitive National Irish Pure Friesian Herds Competition, won for the second year in a row by John O'Connor, Ballykennedy Herd.

• Another fun and well supported club and breed day at the Iverk Show, Piltown, with three dedicated British Friesian classes, it's a great showcase for the breeders and the club.

On-farm meetups will continue in 2025. These are low pressure opportunities to meet on a club member's farm to chat about the seasonal challenges and different approaches to those challenges club members take. (Next one scheduled for May 24th, postponed from Jan due to weather)

Club secretary Francis Fitzgerald gave an overview of the breeding programme the club kicked off last year and is expanding this year.

Sinead Quealy, club PRO outlined the new seminar and showcase sale which the club will host October 22nd 2025. It was decided to run this event instead of a summer national open day as the open day is becoming so popular and successful that an opportunity for a rethink and to take some pressure off club members is welcome this year.

Donal Carey of the IHFA gave a lovely contribution in support of the club, the members and representing the IHFA's support for our continued efforts developing and promoting the breed.

The nominations and elections to the club's main committee based on the rotation of terms as agreed in 2023 took place, and the new committee is as follows:

Chairman - Patrick Quealy

Secretary - Francis Fitzgerald

IHFA Representative - Oliver Dempsey

Treasurer - Gearoid Meagher

John O'Connor, Sam Dudley, John Long, Martin Crowe, Sinead Quealy, John Kiersey, Jim Corby, Pat Cleary.

Here's to another busy year!

*Interesting side note, in May 2025 it emerged the newly elected Pope Leo XIV once stayed in The Horse & Jockey on a visit to the Augustinian community in Fethard.