Latest news with #Co.Roscommon
Agriland
4 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
New farm manager appointed to Newford Suckler Farm
A new farm manager has been appointed to the Newford suckler demonstration farm. Dawn Meats has confirmed to Agriland that Co. Roscommon man Shane McGuinness has now stepped into the role. The Newford suckler demonstration farm - which was established by Teagasc and Dawn Meats with support from McDonalds in 2015 - took up its new residence on a 118ac farm in Scrine, near Athleague in Co. Roscommon at the end of 2023, having relocated from a site in Co. Galway. The new farm manager replaces Stephen Frend, who is staying within the realms of Dawn Meats but moving to a procurement role with the meat processor. A statement to Agriland from Dawn Meats confirmed: "Newford farm manager Stephen Frend has taken up a new role within Dawn Meats as a procurement officer. "The new manager of the Newford Farm is Co. Roscommon man Shane McGuinness, a past student of Ballyhaise Agricultural College." The Dawn Meats statement wished both "the very best of luck in their careers". The Newford Herd consists of Angus and Hereford cross Friesian cows, originating from the dairy herd with heifers calved at 24-months-of-age. The systems on the farm are finishing male progeny at 21-23-months-of-age as steers, with a target carcass weight ranging from 310-350kg. Some of the herds main targets are: 365-day calving interval; 8-10 week calving spread; 80% of cows calved within eight weeks; Weaning a calf at 50% of the cows' own body weight. Heifers are finished at 18-20-months-of-age with a target carcass weight of 290-320kg. The farm contract rears all of its replacement heifers, which are sourced from high-index Hereford and Angus bulls. The herd is run on "a fully commercial basis", according to the farm's website. The Newford Farm aims to also "demonstrate the potential of a moderately-large suckler beef farm to generate a viable family farm income when operated to the highest-level of technical efficiency and best practice".
Agriland
6 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
Mep Urges Bord Na Mona to Suspend Rewetting Plans
Independent Ireland MEP Ciarán Mullooly has written a letter to the chief executive of Bord na Móna, Tom Donnellan asking for the semi-state company to suspend rewetting of two Co. Roscommon bogs until local concerns are dealt with. Mullooly told Agriland that he wrote the letter on behalf of farmers who own adjacent land to Mountdillon and Erinagh bogs in Co. Roscommon. Many of these farmers are concerned about their farms being flooded as the bogs nearby are due to be rewetted in the coming months. Mullooly said the the registered letter was sent directly to the CEO in case there has been a communications issue after the farmers' concerns were met with silence. The rewetting is part of the European Commission nature restoration work assigned to Bord Na Móna. The company has a commitment to rewet about 40,000ha of peatland around the country. However the MEP is saying consideration must be given to the local landowners at this crucial stage as it will be too late to do anything about cleaning drains out in the bad weather next winter if arable farmland nearby is already flooded. Mullooly said that a group of the farmers met with Bord na Móna over two months ago and agreed upon a protocol for dealing with their concerns. He added that the land owners expected that protocol to be followed and thought it was matter of waiting for the issue to go through the correct process . However, the MEP clarified that on Friday (July 18), Bord Na Móna alerted local farmers that the company would be shutting off the pumps this Thursday (July 24). Mullooly said this comes as a concern after going a couple of months without hearing anything back from the company in regards to blocked drains on the perimeters of the bogs. He added: "The farmers are adamant for it to be known they are in no way against the rewetting of the bogs." "However, they do want the drains to be cleared as they are completely blocked up with silt, which will cause flooding this winter." Mullooly said that farmers were also looking for the drains to be fenced if possible, considering the safety hazard empty drains may pose to animals when when cleared out. The MEP said: "The drains around the bog are in a pretty miserable state, clogged with filth. Some are only half-full, but others are full to the top." Mullooly said that further issues had arisen at the previous meeting, "with one if not two farmers claiming that maps produced by the company included land which they say they own, not Bord na Móna." The MEP said that this is of great concern for these farmers, as they have submitted this land under their BISS applications. He added that if Bord Na Móna do not resolve the issue, these farmers will have their agricultural land flooded. Mullooly said: "This is unacceptable if people who own the land are totally ignored and farmland floods in the coming year." The MEP added that this is an emergency Bord na Móna could prevent and urged the company to visit the farms on the ground and examine the sites, saying the issue can still be avoided. Mullooly has called a meeting tonight (Tuesday, July 22) at 6.00p.m in St. Faithleach GAA clubhouse in Ballyleague, Co. Roscommon, to discuss the growing concern.
Irish Post
11-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Post
Growth of family-run engineering firm leads to jobs boost for Co. Roscommon
THE GROWTH of a family-run engineering firm in Co. Roscommon has led to a jobs boost for the region. Griffdon Engineering is to create 48 new jobs at its headquarters in Ballaghaderreen, boosting local employment and enhancing skills in the electrical service and maintenance sector. The company has grown considerably since siblings Seamus and Elayne Griffin took over in 2017 from their parents, Martin and Mary Griffin, and it now takes on large-scale projects in Ireland and across Europe. "This is a proud day for Griffdon Engineering, for Ballaghaderreen, and for the wider community," said Managing Director Seamus Griffin. "We are excited to build on this momentum and look forward to what we can achieve — together." Sectors Griffdon Engineering is already a regionally-significant company which has experienced extensive export growth in the critical infrastructure construction sector, particularly in overseas markets. The company delivers on specialised engineering contracts and is working towards more sustainable forms of construction through Off Site Manufacturing (OSM). It also provides services to semiconductor and pharmaceutical industries, the oil and gas and renewable energy sectors and ICT firms involved in data centre construction. Griffdon believes further expansion can help it to capitalise on the growing need for support among multinationals in the tech, pharmaceuticals and agrifood industries. Export growth The creation of the new jobs is being supported by Enterprise Ireland's Company Development Fund. Jenny Melia, Executive Director and incoming CEO of Enterprise Ireland, said the organisation aims to support companies to help them create more jobs in Ireland. "Enterprise Ireland is delighted to support this family-owned business as it grows from strength-to-strength by capitalising on the growing trend towards more offsite manufacturing (OSM) and prefabrication in the construction industry," she said. "Enterprise Ireland is committed to supporting companies like Griffdon Engineering to increase their level of innovation, improve their competitiveness and expand their global footprint, with the ultimate goal of delivering export growth and jobs in Ireland and we look forward to continuing to work with the company in the future."
Agriland
03-06-2025
- General
- Agriland
Co. Roscommon man wins Muintir na Tíre community award
A Co. Roscommon man has been named as the inaugural recipient of the Muintir na Tíre Community Person of the Year award. Bernard Kearney, from Fourmilehouse, Co. Roscommon was given the award at an event at Muintir na Tíre premises in Tipperary Town on Saturday, May 31. Bernard Kearney receives the 2025 Muintir na Tíre Community Person of the Year award, from Jackie Meally, national president of Muintir na Tíre. Source: Martin Quinn Kearney worked as a development officer with the organisation for over 30 years. According to Muintir na Tíre, throughout Kearney's life, he has been a firm believer in the mission statement and ethos of the organisation's founder, Canon John Hayes. During Kearney's time as a development officer, the Roscommon man was well known for his involvement with community text alert groups. Muintir na Tíre believes that Kearney's commitment to his local community, for nearly 50 years, can be seen through the many projects and initiatives that he has been involved in. The award was presented to Kearney by Muintir na Tíre national president, Jackie Meally. The event was preceded by a ceremony in Bansha, Co. Tipperary for the late Canon John Hayes, the founder of Muintir na Tíre. To mark 40 years of the community alert and text alert programme, Meally and the Irish Farmers' Association's (IFA) deputy president, Alice Doyle unveiled a new memorial bench. Muintir na Tíre In other news, local community groups are now able to apply for funding and mentoring under a programme to 'protect and celebrate' local heritage, including natural heritage. The Heritage Keepers programme is now open to applications for its fifth year. The programme is open to community groups and primary schools across Ireland in both urban and rural locations. Organisers of the initiative said that this year's programme will have an increased number of places for both community groups and schools. Heritage Keepers is an initiative of Burrenbeo Trust, and is funded by The Sunflower Charitable Foundation, through Community Foundation Ireland.
