Farming
Meeting to offer people a chance to tackle the ongoing suicide problem
BY FRANCIS FARRAGHER
IFA branches and GAA clubs across the county have been invited to send representatives to a public information meeting in Balllinasloe next week on the issue of suicide.
With over 500 people losing their lives to suicide in the Republic of Ireland each year, a new group has been established in the East Galway area aimed at increasing awareness.
GELS – standing for Galway East Life Support – began just a couple of months back, with the aim of setting up a help and contact network aimed at tackling the scourge of suicide.
One of the organisers, Maura Canning of the IFA Farm Family Committee, told the Farming Tribune that the whole aim of GELS was to increase awareness of mental health problems and to remove any stigma from them.
“I suppose after such a difficult year in farming, many of us felt this Spring that many farmers were simply getting quite ‘down’ about the situation.
“The message we want to get out there is that it’s ok to feel down at times but the key thing is to talk to someone and to seek help. There is a lot of help and advice out there – it’s just a matter of accessing it,” said Maura Canning.
She issued an open invitation to IFA members, GAA members and the general public to attend next Wednesday night’s (June 26) meeting* in Gullane’s Hotel, Ballinasloe, at 7.30pm, which will be addressed by a number of guest speakers.
“I would just say to anyone interested to come along to this meeting, listen to what’s been said, ask any question they want, and take back to their homes and communities some valuable information,” said Maura Canning.
Galway IFA Chairman Michael Flynn said that the old saying about a ‘problem shared being a problem halved’ was never as important as it was today.
“We have 77 branches across the county and we are confident that our network of people can play an important role in getting the message across that there is help out there for someone who feels a bit down.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
ANOTHER look at the strategy for the Athlone to Galway city Greenway has been called for by an IFA representative to ensure that the route serves local families and communities – as well as tourists.
Galway IFA Rural Development Representative, Peter Gohery, said that a common-sense approach in relation to the Greenway would steer it towards benefitting local communities as well as tourists.
“There is a lot more consultation with farmers and landowners needed on this project and there are many sections of roadway along this route which would lend themselves to the provision of a walkway cum cycleway alongside the road.
“Not only would this serve the tourism element of the project but it would also ensure that car usage between local villages and towns would also be reduced. This is a win-win situation for everyone,” said Peter Gohery.
He added that a perfect example of such an arrangement was in an approximately five kilometre stretch of roadway between Abbeyknockmoy village and Brooklodge in North Galway. alongside the very busy N63 Galway-Roscommon stretch of road.
“This has turned out to be an outstanding success not only for local people but for the many more visitors who travel to walk or cycle along this route.
“There’s a kerb and a green margin between the roadway and the walkway/cycle way which is busy seven days a week with people along this route.
“Families and children really make wonderful use of this facility. I want Galway County Council to take a look at this and see how successful it is. It really is a template that should be followed in terms of the Greenway development,” said Peter Gohery.
He also said that there needed to be far more ‘real consultation’ with landowners and farmers on the Greenway.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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THE major national suppliers of fertilisers have been asked to come clean and sell their product at current market values – and not at inflated prices based on last year’s costings.
Galway IFA Chairman, Stephen Canavan, told the Farming Tribune that was going on as regards fertiliser prices and supply in the Republic of Ireland ‘was intolerable’ and couldn’t be allowed to continue.
He said that last year, the big national suppliers had ‘made a killing’ on fertiliser prices having cheap stock in hand and then selling it at grossly inflated prices due to the energy crisis caused by the Russian war in Ukraine.
“Fertiliser prices have fallen all over the world – and by quite large margins. All you have to do is to look at the current prices of fertiliser in Northern Ireland – it’s a disgrace what’s happening down here,” said Stephen Canavan.
He added that farmers were coming together to transport lorry loads of fertiliser from Northern Ireland with up to a €200 difference in the price of fertiliser on a north-south basis.
“There is no doubt about it, but that farmers are being held to ransom by the major supplier down here. They just think that they can charge what they like for fertiliser, but that day is gone,” said Stephen Canavan.
He added that farmers were now coming together to organise the importation of lorry loads of fertiliser from Northern Ireland, which even allowing for transport costs, still amounted to major savings.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
PROPOSALS put forward by the Dept. of Agriculture to push back payment dates for a range of agricultural support schemes have been greeted ‘with dismay’ by the IFA and a Galway TD.
East Galway Independent TD, Sean Canney, said it was ‘unbelievable’ at a time of such increased costs for farmers that the Dept. were proposing to ‘push back’ payment dates.
The proposals came to light at last week’s meeting of the Farmers’ Charter when farm representatives were told by the Dept. that the new CAP would require a revision of the charter.
“From my understanding of what was outlined at the Farmers’ Charter, the payment dates for some of the schemes could be put back by up to a month,” said Deputy Canney.
He added that one of the proposals related to delaying the ANC (Areas of Natural Constraint) by four weeks to mid-October was ‘an insult to farmers’ who depended heavily on this money being paid in September.
“Another proposal is to delay the BISS (Basic Income Support for Sustainability) payment by one week which will also lead to unnecessary hardship for farmers.
“Every week’s delay is adding pressure on the farming sector and the Department need to get their act together and stop playing games with farmers’ money. I ask the Minister to intercede and stop this nonsense,” said Deputy Canney.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
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