Mr Gene Lynch – Irish Hereford Society President 2010 -2011
West Cork Hereford breeder Mr Gene Lynch Droumdaniel, Bantry, Co Cork takes up office as President of the Irish Hereford Society for the next twelve months. This is the first time a breeder from the area has been selected to represent the Society at this level.
The Droumdaniel herd was established in 1984 with the purchase of a Hereford heifer from Michael Healy Ballingeary, County Cork. This was followed by the purchase of two females from John O'Mahony, Camp, Castleisland, County Kerry. These purchases were the foundation of the herd that now consists of twenty breeding females. An active member with his family of the Cork Show circuit for the past ten years the herd has enjoyed much success in that time.
In 2004 and 2008, the Droumdaniel herd secured the Frank Appelbe Cup, winning the Supreme Championship at Bandon Sale. Gene has been an active member of the very energetic and successful West Cork Club over almost twenty years and at present he is Vice-Chairman, to its dynamic Chairman, Tom Hickey of Ballydehob.
Currently serving his second term on the Irish Hereford Society Council he is a member of its Breed Improvement Committee. In his first four-year term on Council he was a committed member of the Shows, Sales and Publicity Committee.
Gene has officiated at a number of summer shows throughout the country and most recently at the Society’s Show and Sale at Nenagh in April. He has just represented the Irish Society at the very successful 13th European Hereford Conference held over four days in Scotland and England. Speaking on his election he stated that “It is a great honour to be elected to the position and to have the opportunity to represent my fellow breeders in the year ahead”. “I know that the breed has the qualities and genetics required by the beef industry to take on the challenges of the marketplace today”. “To achieve success I believe that breeders should not sell bulls, that they would not be comfortable using for breeding themselves, especially with the new high-tech grading system that’s in place in our meat plants, breeders should not be afraid to cull females that aren’t producing quality stock”. Mr Lynch looks forward to a busy year and the opportunity to meet with and consult with fellow breeders throughout the country and to further the interests of the breed wherever possible.
The new vice President of the Society is Mr Frank Consetine, Cree, Kilrush, Co, Clare.