I became a member of Ballybrown Macra Na Feirme in 1970, elected secretary at my first meeting. Over the following years held officeship at all levels including: Branch Chairman, County Limerick Chairman, and Chairman of National Agricultural Affairs. Elected National President in 1983.

Some Important issues dealt with during my presidency included:

• Securing the financial future of Macra by negotiating the IFA Macra fund
• Lobbying for the installation aid and stamp duty relief for young farmers
• Continuing Macra support for the introduction of a proper education system for young farmers
• Involved in securing the best possible deal for Ireland in the introduction of the milk-quota system in 1984
• Highlighting numerous issues affecting young rural people, etc.

Member of the Clarina branch. Held the officership of chairman and secretary, followed by officership in Limerick County Executive.

Principle officerships held included:

• Limerick PRO
• Represented Limerick on the National Livestock Committee
• County Chairman 1996-2000

Some issues dealt with during my Chairmanship included:

• Negotiating a satisfactory outcome to many Sheep and Beef premium problems
• Initiating Beef discussion group in the County
• Dealing with the fodder crisis of 1998-99
• Highlighting the New-Zealand lamb import issue
• The blockading of Beef factory in the county and negotiated a good result. And dealt with many other issues

Limericks representative on the National Dairy committee 2002 - 2006. During my Term I initiated the IFA milk-testing Project with a view to securing national centralised independent milk-testing in an internationally accredited Laboratory.

• Lead the IFA National Dairy Commodity Committee into securing the best possible return from the market place for Dairy Farmers
• Lobbying at Government and EU level for support that will lift milk price in the immediate future
• Encouraging the consolidation of the Irish Dairy Industry so that more of the market returns will come back to farmers in a better milk price
• Ensuring that there will be a future in Dairying for young farmers

I represent IFA on
The Irish Dairy Board
The National Dairy Council(NDC)
COPA milk group