'Structured campaign' in Laois IFA to get Francie Gorman elected

The Laois IFA community had no small role to play in helping Francie Gorman win his election.

For several months beforehand, a concerted campaign was coordinated, as Laois IFA chair John Fitzpatrick told the Leinster Express.

“We had a very strong outfit, there were a lot of people prepared to do a lot of work.

“Each branch in the county was given a county to look after. Members made countless calls, asking people who knew people to give him their support.

“We met weekly for about two months to recap that week and plan the rest.

“It was a very structured campaign and everybody took their responsibility seriously,” he said.

As chair of the county executive, Mr Fitzpatrick was just one of the campaign organising team. It was headed by Anne Maria Aird from Portlaoise, and chaired by Pat Hennessy.

“It was a pleasure running the campaign with them,” Mr Fitzpatrick said.

Francie Gorman was an easy candidate to ask farmers to back he said.

“When you have a good candidate it helps in the promotion. Being such a strong figure, he is good in debates, he is willing to make changes and put farm incomes and respect for farmers up on top of the national agenda,” John said.

On what it means for Laois IFA members to have one of their own as president, he said it will help not only Laois but farmers nationwide.

“Farming in general, we are all in the one boat, we want the same for everybody, at national level,” he said.

Mr Fitzpatrick sums up the big issue to tackle in the years ahead.

“The environment, farmers are sometimes being wrongly blamed, they are easy targets. Yet we can do so much to help the environment, people should have more patience with us.

“I hope that the organisation will get better recognition and a stronger voice over the term,” he said.

Waiting for the result was a tense day but worth it.

“It was great when the results came in. It was very much a team effort. We had a full house in Abbeyleix. There was a great sense of celebration. Everybody was rightly in good form.

“It is lovely to have that IFA bond back in the county again. It will help to bond the IFA further in Laois. It is strong here anyway,” he said.

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He wishes Mr Gorman well in his four years ahead.

“On behalf of the executive, I wish Francie and his family all the best in his term which starts on January 9 at the national AGM.

"It will be quite a busy schedule. If we can help or advise him in any way we are here to do so,” the Laois IFA chair said.