BIG READ: ‘We put you in your seats’, Carlow councillors under fire from farmers

At the most recent full meeting of Carlow County Council large numbers of local farmers organised a protest outside the meeting to make their presence and displeasure known to the council and its members.

After the protests, the farmers made their way in the Council Chambers to make their voices heard in front of the Carlow councillors.

Once the farmers made their way into the council meeting, two members of the Irish Farmers’ Association had the opportunity to speak in front of the council, Micheal Purcell, the head of the Carlow IFA along with the deputy chair of the Carlow IFA, Jamie Kealy.

The two men then presented their facts and figures to the Carlow elected councillors.

With Mr Purcell starting with: “Farming is worth €700 million to the Carlow economy.”

Mr Purcell then went on to talk about what the Carlow farmers are not happy with including: “increased paperwork” and “further restraints being placed on us with the Carlow CAP review”.

Before Mr Purcell concluded he added: “We’re not anti-environment, we’re not confrontational.”

He then handed over to the vice chair of the Carlow IFA, Jamie Kealy.

Jamie went on to hold similar concerns to his colleague, while progressing the conversation further.

He started by saying that Carlow farmers “are smothered in legislation” and how farmers are the “backbone of this country”.

He then informed the councillors that “we put you in your seats” and then urged the councillors to “talk to the boys higher up”.

He then went on to talk about council farm inspectors, “we want proper protocol, farmers are living in fear of these environmental inspectors”.

He then reminded the council that: “Agriculture keeps salatile towns in Carlow alive.”

The Carlow councillors then began clambering in agreement with the farmers although the farmers noted the low turnout by the council at the last IFA Carlow protests.