Kennedy joins race for IFA's top job
Tuesday September 08 2009
The IFA presidential race has been thrown wide open after dairy committee chairman Richard Kennedy confirmed that he will contest the election on December 21.
Although the Limerick man had been widely tipped as a contender from the outset, Mr Kennedy delayed his announcement for almost a month after Derek Deane and John Bryan made their declarations.
"The bottom line is that I am the dairy committee chairman and I did not want to compromise my work in that area by starting an election campaign any sooner than now," said Mr Kennedy.
"I realise I'm late into the ring but whoever wins this election should not be judged on when he came into the race but whether he's good enough for the job," he added.
Mr Kennedy, who runs a dairy farm in Clarina, Co Limerick, has been IFA dairy chairman since 2006 and is a former national president of Macra na Feirme.
IFA insiders believe the Limerick man's entry into the election will totally change the dynamics of the contest.
Both Mr Deane and Mr Bryan are both from drystock backgrounds and are battling from neighbouring bases in Carlow and Kilkenny. In contrast, Mr Kennedy will take a high proportion of votes from Munster delegates and will also receive strong backing from dairy farmers.
- Caitriona Murphy
