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Karen Elliffe of Ballinagore Macra in Westmeath was crowned the 2016 W.R Shaw Queen of the Land at the Bridge House Hotel in Tullamore recently.

Irish farmers learned a long time ago that, in certain circumstances, working in co-operation could lead to real progress and maximised profit for each individual. The meitheal system, whereby a farmer would assist a neighbouring farmer, who would in turn reciprocate that help when needed, was a well established tradition in rural Ireland. The spirit of the meitheal was evident in the beginnings of the Irish co-operative movement. Co-operatives were operating since the 1880s and the concept of voluntary association among farmers went through strong periods as well as years of slow development.

More than 55,000 properties in Galway have no access to high-speed broadband, and some may not have until 2022, according to Communications Minister Denis Naughten.

It has never happened before that an IFA President was elected on the first count, but such was Joe Healy’s landslide victory that he exceeded the quota, taking more than 14,000 votes, a whopping 50 per cent of the electorate. It really was a stunning victory and it was obvious the Athenry dairy farmer’s message had resonated right across the country.

The writing was on the wall for his competitors since early morning. When Joe Healy started to poll strongly in Munster, which should have been the stronghold of Kerry native Flor McCarthy, the signs were ominous for the Kenmore man, and the IFA presidential race's third competitor, Laois native Henry Burns. The Athenry man was surging ahead before any box in Galway was opened, which was always going to have a significantly positive bearing on his final tally.

The west has not been home to an IFA president since the 1990s when Abbey Duniry based John Donnolly was at the helm of the organisation, but the region has a big chance of producing a farm leader once again in Athenry man Joe Healy.