M Magazine Summer 2013 - Macra na Feirme

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Positive mental health and the
Green Ribbon campaign
Positive mental health has been high on
the agenda of this year’s Rural Youth
Initiative committee. Chairman of the
committee Ger Griffin called on the
Government to appoint a figure head for
a mental health campaign to mirror the
success of the Road Safety Authority in
reducing the number of deaths on Irish
roads. “As the RSA is reporting record
low numbers of road deaths in Ireland,
it is time that the Government revaluate
how it is working to reduce death by
suicide. The appointment of Gay Byrne
Young farmers recognised by co-op board
Young dairy farmers recently got a welcome boost at the Arrabawn
Co-op AGM as a motion to include representation from
a young farmer on the board of the co-op was supported and
agreed. This is a proactive and pioneering development
for Arrabawn Co-op and welcomed by
Macra. Following on from the success
of the young farmer dairy director
training programme initiated by
Did you know
is increasing by six months
every year!
22 | m | Summer 2013
as chairman of the RSA has proved successful
and I call on the Government to
mirror this approach with a campaign to
reduce death by suicide,” said Mr Griffin.
Macra is also calling on the Government
to provide adequate mental health
services to Ireland’s young people and
children to ensure early intervention.
Services outside the capital are particularly
strained despite the fact that farmers
in rural areas and young men are
among those most at risk.
Early intervention is possible when
Macra and ICOS, dairy farmer and
participant on the course, Ronan
Feighery (pictured), a young
trained dairy farmer from Shannon
Harbour, Co Offaly, who was
elected national chairman at the
recent Macra AGM, put forward
the following motion at the Arrabawn
AGM: ‘That a new seat be
created on the board of Arrabawn
Co-op for young trained farmers under
the age of 40’.
“I am delighted that Arrabawn co-op
members were forward thinking and
supported the motion. Young farmers
are an asset to their co-operatives
and can positively contribute to the
management and growth of co-ops,”
said Ronan.
This is a very important outcome for
young progressive dairy farmers as its
sets a marker for other co-ops to encourage
and facilitate young farmers
to play an active role in the
development of the co-operative
business and represent the
views of young dairy farmers
who are the future of the industry.
Macra commends the co-op
for its progressive thinking.
Macra’s new national
executive committee
launched Macra’s involvement
in the See Change
Green Ribbon campaign.
Back row (from left):
Ronan Feighery, national
chairman; Sean Finan,
North West VP and national
treasurer; Alan Jagoe,
past president; Edmond
Connolly, CEO; and Paddy
Delaney, Leinster VP.
Middle row: Sean Ronan;
David McDonagh; James
Healy, Munster VP; and
Eamon Cassells.
Front row: Francis Murphy,
Mary Brennan, national
secretary, Michelle
O’Callaghan with Kieran
O’Dowd, Macra national
president.
adequate services are provided which
can radically change the outcome for a
young person.
Macra has partnered with ‘See
Change’, the national mental health
stigma reduction organisation, who have
launch their nationwide Green Ribbon
campaign to get people talking about
mental health. Macra launched the green
ribbon at the AGM and will distribute
Green Ribbons and literature on talking
about mental health to all clubs and counties
in the summer pack.