IN WHAT some might consider a day off for women, some 700 delegates came together yesterday for the third annual Women in Agriculture conference at the Lyrath Hotel in Kilkenny.
The one-day event, organised by the Country Livingmagazine which is part of the Irish Farmers Journal, played host to a raft of top-quality speakers, who addressed the issues pertaining to Irish farm life.
“It’s like a well-dressed indoor ploughing championships for women in there,” said one of the coach drivers in the packed carpark filled by cars and coaches from every part of the country.
One of those who made the long journey from Leitrim was Margaret McCartan, Newtowngore, who said she was having a great day out and was being educated as well. She said she had been picking up some useful tips on how farmers could survive, an important task for her son who would be taking over the family farm in Co Leitrim.
“It’s a great day out and it’s great to be among so many women, even though I would like to have seen more younger women here,” she said.
Louise Leahy from outside Fermoy, Co Cork, had travelled to the conference with her two sisters who are involved in farming and she was anxious to hear the contribution from clinical psychologist David Coleman because she has a pre-teen and she hoped to pick up a few tips.
The women, who had performed a series of stretching and breathing exercises before the morning's session began, were all agreed on one thing – they simply adored Oliver Callan, the Nob Nationman, who arrived unannounced as the Taoiseach.
Callan, who is Ireland’s unrivalled mimic, did not pull his punches as he worked his way through the voices of the national and international airwaves making no concession to his all-female audience with some of the jokes.
All of the women said they were particularly happy to be with so many other women at a farming conference, a point reinforced by Claire Hennessy, from Kilkenny who said the solid information, especially on wills, was very important.
Siobhán Fitzgerald from Clashmore, Co Waterford, said she was very taken by the event which reinforced the importance of women in what is normally regarded as an all-male preserve. She had particularly welcomed the presentation by Declan McEvoy from IFAC accountants on the many problems which could face farming when the Government introduces cuts in tax relief.